SB2085 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 10419 SPS 15747 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB2085

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Cristina Castro

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 110/8.9 new
225 ILCS 110/8.10 new
225 ILCS 110/8.11 new
225 ILCS 110/8.12 new

Amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. Provides for licensure of audiology assistants, including qualifications for licensure, minimum requirements for audiology assistant programs, the scope of responsibility of audiology assistants, and requirements for supervision of audiology assistants.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act is amended by adding Sections 8.9, 8.10, 8.11, and 8.12 as follows:

(225 ILCS 110/8.9 new)

Sec. 8.9. Qualifications for licensure as an audiology assistant. A person is qualified to be licensed as an audiology assistant if that person has applied in writing or electronically on forms prescribed by the Department, has paid the required fees, and meets the following criteria:

(1) Is of good moral character. In determining moral character, the Department may take into consideration any felony conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere of the applicant, but such a conviction or plea shall not operate automatically as a complete bar to licensure.

(2) Is at least 18 years of age.

(3) Has received: (A) an associate degree from an audiology assistant program that has been approved by the Department and that meets the minimum requirements set forth in Section 8.10; (B) a bachelor's degree and has completed course work from an accredited college or university that meets the minimum requirements set forth in Section 8.10; (C) certification as an assistant through the American Speech Language Hearing Association; or (D) a license from the State of Illinois as a hearing instrument dispenser.

(225 ILCS 110/8.10 new)

Sec. 8.10. Minimum requirements for audiology assistant programs.

(a) An applicant for licensure as an audiology assistant with an associate's degree must have earned 60 semester credit hours in a program of study that includes general education and the specific knowledge and skills for an audiology assistant. The curriculum of an audiology assistant program must include the following content, as further provided by rule adopted by the Department:

(1) Three semester hours of anatomy and physiology of the hearing mechanism, 3 semester hours of hearing science, 3 semester hours of introduction to audiology, and 3 semester hours of aural rehabilitation from an accredited institution of higher education that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or that meets the U.S. Department of Education equivalency as determined through a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member.

(2) Completion of at least 100 hours of supervised field work experiences supervised by a licensed audiologist at least 50% of the time when the student is engaged in contact with the patient or client. An applicant must obtain written verification demonstrating successful completion of the required field work experience, including a description of the setting in which the training was received and an assessment of the student's technical proficiency.

(b) An applicant for licensure as an audiology assistant who holds certification through the American Speech Language Hearing Association must meet requirements set forth by that Association. Certification with the American Speech Language Hearing Association must be issued and in good standing at the time of application for an audiology assistant license.

(c) The Department may adopt rules that change the curriculum requirements of subsection (a) in order to reflect the guidelines for audiology assistant programs recommended by the American Speech Language Hearing Association.

(d) Any applicant for licensure as an audiology assistant who applies to the Department before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly or any person who holds a valid license as an audiology assistant on the effective date of this amendatory Act shall not be required to meet the new minimum requirements for an audiology assistant program under subsection (a) of this Section.

(225 ILCS 110/8.11 new)

Sec. 8.11. Scope of responsibility of audiology assistants.

(a) The scope of responsibility of audiology assistants is limited to supplementing the role of an audiologist in implementing the treatment program established by the audiologist. The functions and duties of an audiology assistant are:

(1) scheduling patients;

(2) packaging and mailing earmold orders, device repairs, and manufacturer and lab returns;

(3) maintaining inventories of supplies and checking function of equipment;

(4) performing checks on hearing aids and other amplification devices;

(5) performing troubleshooting and minor repairs to hearing aids, earmolds, and other amplification devices;

(6) cleaning hearing aids and other amplification devices;

(7) performing electroacoustic analysis of hearing aids and other amplification devices;

(8) instructing patients in proper use and care of hearing aids and other amplification devices;

(9) demonstrating alerting and assistive listening devices;

(10) instructing patients in proper ear hygiene;

(11) assisting audiologists in treatment programs;

(12) assisting audiologists with setup and technical tasks;

(13) preparing materials for ear impressions;

(14) maintaining and restocking test and treatment rooms;

(15) performing equipment maintenance and biological checks;

(16) conducting hearing and tympanometric screening on older children and adults (without interpretation);

(17) conducting otoacoustic emission screening;

(18) performing nondiagnostic otoscopy;

(19) performing pure-tone audiologic reassessment on established patients;

(20) preparing the patient for VNG/ENG or evoked testing;

(21) assisting audiologists in hearing testing of pediatric patients;

(22) performing pure-tone hearing screening and universal newborn hearing screening tests;

(23) performing infection control duties within the clinic or service;

(24) assisting patients in completing case history or other relevant forms;

(25) interacting with hearing instrument manufacturers and suppliers regarding status of orders and repairs;

(26) acting as an interpreter for non-English speaking and American Sign Language patients or clients and their family members when competent to do so; and

(27) assisting with audiology research projects, in-service training, and family or community education.

(b) An audiology assistant may not:

(1) determine case selection or evaluation protocols;

(2) interpret observations or data into diagnostic statements of clinical management strategies or procedures;

(3) participate in team or case conferences or on any interdisciplinary team without the presence of the supervising audiologist or an audiologist designated by the supervising audiologist;

(4) write, develop, or modify a patient's individualized treatment plan;

(5) assist with patients without following the treatment plan prepared by the audiologist or without proper supervision;

(6) compose or sign any formal documents (such as treatment plans, reimbursement forms, or reports); progress notes written by audiology assistants may be reviewed and co-signed by the supervising audiologist, subject to local facility policy;

(7) transmit or disclose clinical information, either orally or in writing, to anyone, including the patient, without the approval of the supervising audiologist;

(8) select patients for treatment services or discharge patients from treatment services;

(9) counsel or consult with the patient, family, or others regarding the patient status or service or make referrals for additional services; and

(10) refer to themselves either orally or in writing with a title other than one determined by the supervising audiologist.

(225 ILCS 110/8.12 new)

Sec. 8.12. Supervision of audiology assistants.

(a) In this Section, "direct supervision" means in-view observation and guidance by an audiologist while an assigned activity is performed by the audiology assistant.

(b) An audiology assistant shall practice only under the supervision of an audiologist who has at least 2 years experience in addition to the supervised professional experience required under paragraph (f) of Section 8 of this Act. An audiologist who supervises an audiology assistant must have completed at least 2 clock hours of training in supervision related to audiology. The Department shall adopt rules describing the supervision training requirements. The rules may allow an audiologist to apply to the Board for an exemption from this training requirement based upon prior supervisory experience.

(c) An audiology assistant must be under the direct supervision of an audiologist at least 30% of the audiology assistant's actual patient or client contact time per patient or client during the first 90 days of initial employment as an audiology assistant. Thereafter, an audiology assistant must be under the direct supervision of an audiologist at least 20% of the audiology assistant's actual patient or client contact time per patient or client. Supervision of an audiology assistant beyond the minimum requirements of this subsection may be imposed at the discretion of the supervising audiologist. A supervising audiologist must be available to communicate with an audiology assistant whenever the assistant is in contact with a patient or client.

(d) An audiologist who supervises an audiology assistant must document direct supervision activities. At a minimum, supervision documentation must provide: (1) information regarding the quality of the audiology assistant's performance of assigned duties; and (2) verification that clinical activity is limited to duties specified in Section 8.11.

(e) A full-time audiologist may supervise no more than 2 audiology assistants. An audiologist who does not work full-time may supervise no more than one audiology assistant.