Audiology's Nomenclature and Taxonomy Under the Law: Implications for Access and Coverage of Audiology Services

Access to audiology services is shaped not only by clinical competence but also by the statutory language that defines the profession under state licensure laws and federal Medicare policy. This article examines how audiology's legal nomenclature and taxonomy influence scope of practice, reimbursement, and patient access to hearing and balance care in the United States. State audiology practice acts and federal Medicare statutes are compared with those governing other clinical healthcare professions to identify structural differences in professional classification and covered services. The analysis demonstrates that many state practice acts have not evolved alongside the profession's transition to doctoral-level education, resulting in outdated definitions that fail to recognize contemporary responsibilities related to diagnosis, management, treatment, prescribing authority, and the use of clinical extenders. At the federal level, Medicare continues to classify audiology primarily as a diagnostic supplier service, creating gaps in coverage for treatment services and limiting participation in modern reimbursement models. These statutory and regulatory inconsistencies contribute to fragmented care, unnecessary administrative burdens, reduced access for Medicare beneficiaries, and underutilization of audiologists' clinical expertise. Modernizing professional nomenclature and taxonomy at both the state and federal levels is presented as a foundational step toward improving access, aligning regulation with contemporary practice, and strengthening hearing healthcare delivery.