Retailers are now allowed to sell over-the-counter lower-cost hearing aids without a prescription or medical exam under final Biden administration rules that took effect yesterday. The Food and Drug Administration in August approved the sale of OTC hearing aids, allowing millions of Americans to buy hearing aids without seeing an audiologist and potentially saving individuals thousands of dollars. The rules apply to hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. The aids will be available directly from stores or online without medical exams, a prescription or audiologist fitting adjustment. See the August 2022 issue of America’s Pharmacist® for an overview of this market as a potential revenue source for community pharmacies.
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