§ 802. Special provisions; not-for-profit sales. 1. No otolaryngologist or other licensed physician who has conducted a medical evaluation of hearing loss shall engage in the business of dispensing hearing aids for a profit. No otolaryngologist or other licensed physician who has dispensed a hearing aid shall refuse or fail to perform repairs or service on any hearing aid that they have dispensed.

Terms Used In N.Y. General Business Law 802

  • Business: means any individual, partnership, trust, association, organization or corporation. See N.Y. General Business Law 789
  • Dispensing of hearing aids: means the act of fitting, selecting, selling, renting, adapting or servicing of hearing aids or any other instrument to compensate for impaired hearing; provided that such term shall include testing of hearing, solely for the purpose of fitting, selecting, selling, distribution, renting, adapting or servicing hearing aids or any instrument to compensate for impaired hearing, the making of impressions, castings and shells and appropriate counseling and instructions pertaining to the selection, adaptation and sale or rental of hearing aids and further provided that such term shall include any tasks, procedures, acts, or practices that are necessary (a) for the non-diagnostic testing of hearing solely for the purpose of fitting a hearing aid; (b) for training in the use of amplification including hearing aids; (c) for the making of ear molds for hearing aids; (d) for the fitting, dispensing, and sale of hearing aids; or (e) for otoscopic observation of solely the ear canal for the purposes of fitting, dispensing or sale of hearing aids; provided, however, that nothing contained in this subdivision shall be deemed to permit the performance of or reference to an otoscopic evaluation for medical diagnosis; and (f) for those other procedures necessary to determine proper amplification needs and the specific hearing aid which will be of maximum benefit to aid or to compensate for the impaired ear. See N.Y. General Business Law 789
  • Hearing aid: means any wearable instrument or device designed for or offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing and any parts, attachments or accessories but excluding batteries and cords or accessories thereto. See N.Y. General Business Law 789
  • Otolaryngologist: means a physician licensed under Article one hundred thirty-one of the education law, who practices that branch of medicine which treats diseases of the ear, nose and throat. See N.Y. General Business Law 789

2. Every licensed physician who engages in the dispensing of hearing aids in compliance with the provisions of this section shall be required to comply with sections seven hundred ninety-one, seven hundred ninety-eight and eight hundred three of this article, in addition to compliance with this section.