Section 148.5197 Hearing Aid Dispensing

MINNESOTA STATUTES AND CODES

Section 148.5197 Hearing Aid Dispensing

148.5197 HEARING AID DISPENSING.

Subdivision 1.Content of contracts.

Oral statements made by an audiologist or certified dispenser regarding the provision of warranties, refunds, and service on the hearing aid or aids dispensed must be written on, and become part of, the contract of sale, specify the item or items covered, and indicate the person or business entity obligated to provide the warranty, refund, or service.

Subd. 2.Required use of license number.

The audiologist's license number or certified dispenser's certificate number must appear on all contracts, bills of sale, and receipts used in the sale of hearing aids.

Subd. 3.Consumer rights information.

An audiologist or certified dispenser shall, at the time of the recommendation or prescription, give a consumer rights brochure, prepared by the commissioner and containing information about legal requirements pertaining to dispensing of hearing aids, to each potential consumer of a hearing aid. The brochure must contain information about the consumer information center described in section 153A.18. A contract for a hearing aid must note the receipt of the brochure by the consumer, along with the consumer's signature or initials.

Subd. 4.Liability for contracts.

Owners of entities in the business of dispensing hearing aids, employers of audiologists or persons who dispense hearing aids, supervisors of trainees or audiology students, and hearing aid dispensers conducting the transaction at issue are liable for satisfying all terms of contracts, written or oral, made by their agents, employees, assignees, affiliates, or trainees, including terms relating to products, repairs, warranties, service, and refunds. The commissioner may enforce the terms of hearing aid contracts against the principal, employer, supervisor, or dispenser who conducted the transaction and may impose any remedy provided for in this chapter.