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H367 • 2025

An Act to reduce inequities in access to hearing aids

An Act to reduce inequities in access to hearing aids

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Carole A. Fiola
Last action
2025-10-02
Official status
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act to reduce inequities in access to hearing aids

An Act to reduce inequities in access to hearing aids By Representative Fiola of Fall River, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to reduce inequities in access to hearing aids By Representative Fiola of Fall River, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 367) of Carole A.
  • Fiola and others for legislation to provide increased access to hearing aids.
  • Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-02 House

    Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means

  2. 2025-08-28 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 09/08/2025 from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act to reduce inequities in access to hearing aids
By Representative Fiola of Fall River, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 367) of Carole A. Fiola and others for legislation to provide increased access to hearing aids. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
Status:
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill H.367

SECTION 1. Section 73 of chapter 93 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the first and second paragraphs, and inserting in place thereof the following:-

Section 73. No physician shall sell hearing aids or have a direct or indirect membership, employment, co-ownership, or proprietary interest in or with a business which sells hearing aids to, a person to whom such physician has provided services pursuant to section 72; provided, however, that this restriction shall not apply to an otolaryngologist or a nonprofit or charitable organization, clinic, hospital or health care facility which sells hearing aids that are dispensed by a licensed audiologist or hearing instrument specialist.

An audiologist or otolaryngologist who sells a hearing aid to a person to whom such audiologist or otolaryngologist had provided services pursuant to section 72 shall disclose to the prospective purchaser before the sale of the hearing aid the fees for the services provided pursuant to section 72 and the terms of the prospective sale of the hearing aid, including a written estimate of the total purchase price, including, but not limited to, the cost of the hearing aid, the earmold, any batteries or other accessories, and any service costs, and shall inform the prospective purchaser of his right to obtain a hearing aid from a different source.

SECTION 2. Section 200 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (c) and inserting in place thereof the following:-

(c)

Nothing in sections 197 to 200, inclusive, shall be construed to prevent an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist from dispensing or selling hearing aids when employed by or affiliated with an otolaryngologist.

(d) A violation of sections 197 to 199, inclusive, shall also constitute a violation of chapter 93A.

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