(a)  No person, firm, association, or corporation shall sell or attempt to sell, or make available, any hearing aid instrument or hearing prosthetic device to a prospective consumer or purchaser, unless that consumer or purchaser has first obtained and presented to the seller a certificate of need on forms prescribed and furnished by the director of the department of health.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-49-2.1

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Department: means the department of health. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-49-1
  • 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, including ear mold, but excluding batteries and cords. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-49-1
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  The certificate shall be signed by a physician licensed in the state under the provisions of chapter 37 of this title and attest that, pursuant to an otological examination, it is his or her diagnosis that the prospective patient-purchaser has a hearing impediment of a nature as to indicate the need for a hearing aid instrument or hearing prosthetic device.

History of Section.
P.L. 1978, ch. 177, § 1.