The North Carolina Medical Society and North Carolina Society of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery are among dozens of national organizations, state and local medical societies, and state and local specialty societies that have expressed opposition to HR 2140, which was introduced in the US House at the request of the American Academy of Audiology. As currently written, HR 2140 would provide audiologists with unlimited access to Medicare patients without a physician referral. In a letter to Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, the organizations state that “Bypassing a physician evaluation and referral can lead to a misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment that could cause lasting, and expensive, harm to patients.” While recognizing the critical role audiologists play in providing quality hearing healthcare, the groups believe that a physician-led hearing healthcare team with coordination of services is the best approach for providing high quality care to patients. Opposition to the bill is lead by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Click here to read the letter.