A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
27-18-60. Hearing aids. -- (a) Every group health insurance contract, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state shall provide, as an optional rider, coverage for hearing aids.
(b) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Hearing aid" means any nonexperimental, wearable instrument or device designed for the ear and offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing, but excluding batteries, cords, and other assistive listening devices, including, but not limited to FM systems.
(c) It shall remain within the sole discretion of the accident and sickness insurer, as to the provider of hearing aids with which they choose to contract. Reimbursement shall be provided according to the respective principles and policies of the accident and sickness insurer. Nothing contained herein shall preclude the accident and sickness insurer from conducting managed care, medical necessity or utilization review.
(d) Provided, however, that this section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for: (i) hospital confinement indemnity; (ii) disability income; (iii) accident only; (iv) long term care; (v) medicare supplement; (vi) limited benefit health; (vii) specified diseased indemnity; (viii) sickness of bodily injury or death by accident or both; (ix) other limited benefit policies; and (x contracts, plans or group policies subject to the small employer health insurance availability act, chapter 27-50.
SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
27-19-51. Hearing aids. -- (a) Every group health insurance contract, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state shall provide, as an optional rider, coverage for hearing aids.
(b) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Hearing aid" means any nonexperimental, wearable instrument or device designed for the ear and offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing, but excluding batteries, cords, and other assistive listening devices, including, but not limited to FM systems.
(c) It shall remain within the sole discretion of the nonprofit hospital service corporation, as to the provider of hearing aids with which they choose to contract. Reimbursement shall be provided according to the respective principles and policies of the nonprofit hospital service corporation. Nothing contained herein shall preclude the nonprofit hospital service corporation from conducting managed care, medical necessity or utilization review.
(d) Provided, however, that this section shall not apply to contract plans or group policies subject to the small employer health insurance availability act, chapter 27-50.
SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
27-20-46. Hearing aids. -- (a) Every group health insurance contract, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state shall provide, as an optional rider, coverage for the services of hearing aids.
(b) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Hearing aid" means any nonexperimental, wearable instrument or device designed for the ear and offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing, but excluding batteries, cords, and other assistive listening devices, including, but not limited to FM systems.
(c) It shall remain within the sole discretion of the nonprofit medical service corporation, as to the provider of hearing aids with which they choose to contract. Reimbursement shall be provided according to the respective principles and policies of the nonprofit medical service corporation. Nothing contained herein shall preclude the nonprofit medical service corporation from conducting managed care, medical necessity or utilization review.
(d) Provided, however, that this section shall not apply to contract plans or group policies subject to the small employer health insurance availability act, chapter 27-50.
SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
27-41-62. Hearing aids. -- (a) Every group health insurance contract, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state shall provide, as an optional rider, coverage for hearing aids.
(b) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Hearing aid" means any nonexperimental, wearable instrument or device designed for the ear and offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing, but excluding batteries, cords, and other assistive listening devices, including, but not limited to FM systems.
(c) It shall remain within the sole discretion of the health maintenance organizations, as to the provider of hearing aids with which they choose to contract. Reimbursement shall be provided according to the respective principles and policies of the health maintenance organizations. Nothing contained herein shall preclude the health maintenance organizations from conducting managed care, medical necessity or utilization review.
(d) Provided, however, that this section shall not apply to contracts, plans or group policies subject to the small employer health insurance availability act, chapter 27-50.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect on April 1, 2001.