HP0313
LD 425		 Second Regular Session - 124th Maine Legislature
 
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 LR 962
Item 1
Bill Tracking Chamber Status

An Act To Require Private Insurance Coverage for Certain Services for Children with Disabilities

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 24 MRSA §2317-B, sub-§12-E  is enacted to read:

12-E.  Title 24-A, sections 2765, 2847-Q and 4257.   Coverage for children's early intervention services, Title 24-A, sections 2765, 2847-Q and 4257;

Sec. 2. 24-A MRSA §2765  is enacted to read:

§ 2765.  Coverage for children's early intervention services

1.  Definition.   For purposes of this section, "children's early intervention services" means services provided by licensed occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists or clinical social workers working with children from birth to 36 months of age with an identified developmental disability or delay as described in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C, 20 United States Code, Section 1411, et seq.
2.  Required coverage.   All individual health insurance policies, contracts and certificates must provide coverage for children's early intervention services in accordance with this subsection.
A.  A referral from the child's primary care provider is required.
B.  The policy, contract or certificate may limit coverage to $3,200 per year for each child not to exceed $9,600 by the child's 3rd birthday.
C.  The policy, contract or certificate may contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section.

Sec. 3. 24-A MRSA §2847-Q  is enacted to read:

§ 2847-Q.  Coverage for children's early intervention services

1.  Definition.   For purposes of this section, "children's early intervention services" means services provided by licensed occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists or clinical social workers working with children from birth to 36 months of age with an identified developmental disability or delay as described in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C, 20 United States Code, Section 1411, et seq.
2.  Required coverage.   All group health insurance policies, contracts and certificates must provide coverage for children's early intervention services in accordance with this subsection.
A.  A referral from the child's primary care provider is required.
B.  The policy, contract or certificate may limit coverage to $3,200 per year for each child not to exceed $9,600 by the child's 3rd birthday.
C.  The policy, contract or certificate may contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section.

Sec. 4. 24-A MRSA §4257  is enacted to read:

§ 4257.  Coverage for children's early intervention services

1.  Definition.   For purposes of this section, "children's early intervention services" means services provided by licensed occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists or clinical social workers working with children from birth to 36 months of age with an identified developmental disability or delay as described in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C, 20 United States Code, Section 1411, et seq.
2.  Required coverage.   All individual and group health maintenance organization policies, contracts and certificates must provide coverage for children's early intervention services in accordance with this subsection.
A.  A referral from the child's primary care provider is required.
B.  The policy, contract or certificate may limit coverage to $3,200 per year for each child not to exceed $9,600 by the child's 3rd birthday.
C.  The policy, contract or certificate may contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section.

Sec. 5. Application. This Act applies to health insurance policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2010. For purposes of this Act, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

summary

This bill requires individual and group health insurance policies and health maintenance organization contracts to provide coverage for children's early intervention services after a referral from a primary care provider for children from birth to 3 years of age if the child has an identified developmental disability or delay as described in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C. The bill limits coverage to $3,200 per year per child up to a maximum of $9,600 by the child's 3rd birthday. The bill applies to all policies, contracts and certificates issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2010.

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