Ch. 3

LAWS OF MARYLAND

"PROVIDE HEARING AID SERVICES" MEANS TO:

(1)  FIT HEARING AIDS; OR

(2)  SELL HEARING AIDS AT RETAIL.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This subsection is new language added to
provide a single term to refer to those activities
that constitute the practice or business of a hearing
aid dealer. See the General Revisor's Note to this
title.

In item (2) of this subsection, the reference to
"retail" sales clarifies, e.g., that, for purposes of
this title, a wholesaler of hearing aids does not
provide hearing aid services.

Defined terms: "Fit hearing aids" § 8-101
"Hearing aid" § 8-101

8-102. SCOPE OF TITLE.

THIS TITLE DOES NOT:

(1)  LIMIT THE RIGHT OF A PHYSICIAN WHO IS AUTHORIZED
TO PRACTICE MEDICINE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE TO TREAT THE
HUMAN EAR OR FIT HEARING AIDS; OR

(2)  PROHIBIT THE FITTING OF HEARING AIDS BY AN
AUDIOLOGIST WHO HOLDS A CERTIFICATE OF CLINICAL COMPETENCE FROM
THE AMERICAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language derived
without substantive change from former Art. 56, §
512(b).

In item (1) of this section, the reference to a
physician who is "authorized to practice medicine
under the laws of the State" is substituted for the
former reference to a physician "licensed to practice
by the State Board of Physician Quality Assurance"
because Title 14 of the Health Occupations Article
authorizes some physicians who are not licensed by the
State nevertheless to practice medicine in the State.

Item (2) of this section is revised to set forth the
intended application of former Art. 56, § 512(b) to
audiologists by stating that this title does not limit
the right of an audiologist to fit hearing aids. The
revision avoids the erroneous implication in former §
512(b) that an audiologist also is authorized to treat
the human ear medically.

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