NEW YORK STATE HEARING AID DISPENSING ADVISORY BOARD
MEETING SUMMARY
September 28, 2016
The meeting was held at the Department of State, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany; 123 William Street, NYC; and, 65 Court Street, Buffalo.
I. INTRODUCTIONS, ROLL CALL AND QUORUM ANNOUNCEMENT
The meeting was called to order at 10:40 a.m. A. Penzabene took roll call and declared there was not a quorum present. The official attendance was as follows:
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BOARD MEMBERS
Peter Fisher
Anne Orsene
Florence Butler
Shawn Newlands
Excused:
Sally Atkins
Anthony Macera
Kathleen Cassidy
Ana Hae-Ok Kim
EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS
Amy Penzabene, representing
Rossano Rosado, Secretary of State,
Board Chair
James Hinds, representing
MaryEllen Elia, Commissioner,
NYS Education Department
DEPARTMENT OF STATE STAFF
Mary Jo Moore
Ernita Gantt
Dave Mossberg
Jodi DeLollo
Denise Tidings
Sharon Charland
VISITORS
Barbara Ahern, Hearing Health Care Alliance of NY
(HHCANY)
Fred Goossen, HHCANY, International Hearing Society (IHS)
Jerry Bergman, Hearing Loss Association of America
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II. ACTION ITEMS –
A. Approval of meeting summaries - meeting summaries of March 16 and June 22, 2016 could not be approved because there was not a quorum.
B. Legal research on revising CE - D. Mossberg proposed changes to the continuing education course requirements for T-coil and other ALD’s. J. Hinds stated he would pass the proposals by the State Board later in October.
C. Dissemination of plan to provide businesses with materials – a letter containing information; signage and a trifold brochure on T-coil is being drafted by D. Mossberg. Once approved it will be sent to the subcommittee members and board for approval before mailing to all Hearing Aid businesses.
III. SUBCOMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS –
A. Processing Report – J. DeLollo provided statistics regarding the registered/licensed hearing aid dispensers and businesses from August 31, 2015 to date.
B. Exam/Education Subcommittee Report – D. Tidings reported the Department recently updated the hearing aid dispensing licensing written examination to reflect the new syllabus. Implementation of the new exam will be January 2017.
C. Telecoil Subcommittee update – D. Mossberg reported the subcommittee’s recommendations of disseminating information to licensees, particularly on T-coils, and amending regulations to require CE on T-coils and other ALD’s, are being implemented.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
No new business was discussed.
V. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Barbara Ahern commented on the importance of the Department’s plan to disseminate information to consumers on T-Coils and other ALD’s through Hearing Aid Dispensers. She also stated the Alliance will want to discuss the proposed changes to CE and present their thoughts at the next board meeting.
Fred Goossen commented on the proposed changes to the CE and feels the infection control course should remain at 2 hours. He expressed his concerns regarding the proposed changes to the signage and sales contract.
Jerry Bergman commented on the effectiveness of hearing loops for the hearing impaired.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m.