CHAPTER 338
SB 93-FN – FINAL VERSION
16May2007… 1520h
06/27/07 2160eba
2007 SESSION
01/04
SENATE BILL 93-FN
AN ACT relative to insurance coverage for children’s early intervention therapy services.
SPONSORS: Sen. Hassan, Dist 23; Sen. Estabrook, Dist 21; Sen. Barnes, Dist 17; Sen. Janeway, Dist 7; Sen. Kelly, Dist 10; Rep. Wallner, Merr 12; Rep. Flockhart, Rock 13; Rep. Butcher, Ches 3; Rep. Hager, Merr 12
COMMITTEE: Commerce, Labor and Consumer Protection
This bill requires insurance coverage for the costs of early intervention services for children from birth to 36 months.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
16May2007… 1520h
06/27/07 2160eba
07-1153
01/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven
AN ACT relative to insurance coverage for children’s early intervention therapy services.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
338:1 New Section; Individual; Coverage for Children’s Early Intervention Therapy Services. Amend RSA 415 by inserting after section 6-m the following new section:
415:6-n Coverage for Children’s Early Intervention Therapy Services. Each insurer that issues or renews any individual policy, plan, or contract of accident or health insurance providing benefits for medical, rehabilitation, or hospital expenses, shall provide to certificate holders of such insurance, who are residents of this state, coverage for expenses arising from the services of licensed and credentialed occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and clinical social workers working with children from birth to 36 months of age with an identified developmental disability and/or delay as specified in rules adopted pursuant to RSA 171-A:18, IV as long as the providing therapist receives a referral from the child’s primary care physician if applicable. The benefits included in this section may be subject to deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, or other terms and conditions of the policy, and may have a cap of $3,200 per child per year not to exceed $9,600 by the child’s third birthday. Notwithstanding any provision of law or rule to the contrary, the coverage under this section shall apply to the medical assistance program, pursuant to RSA 161 and RSA 167.
338:2 New Section; Group; Coverage for Children’s Early Intervention Services. Amend RSA 415 by inserting after section 18-r the following new section:
415:18-s Coverage for Children’s Early Intervention Services. Each insurer that issues or renews any policy of group or blanket accident or health insurance providing benefits for medical, rehabilitation, or hospital expenses, shall provide to each group, or to the portion of each group comprised of certificate holders of such insurance who are residents of this state, coverage for expenses arising from the services of licensed and credentialed occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and clinical social workers working with children from birth to 36 months of age with an identified developmental disability and/or delay as specified in rules adopted pursuant to RSA 171-A:18, IV as long as the providing therapist receives a referral from the child’s primary care physician if applicable. The benefits included in this section may be subject to deductibles, copayments, co-insurance, or other terms and conditions of the policy, and may have a cap of $3,200 per child per year not to exceed $9,600 by the child’s third birthday. Notwithstanding any provision of law or rule to the contrary, the coverage under this section shall apply to the medical assistance program, pursuant to RSA 161 and RSA 167.
338:3 New Section; Health Service Corporations; Coverage for Children’s Early Intervention Services. Amend RSA 420-A by inserting after section 17-f the following new section:
420-A:17-g Coverage for Children’s Early Intervention Services. Every health service corporation and every other similar corporation licensed under the laws of another state that issues or renews any policy of group or blanket accident or health insurance providing benefits for medical, rehabilitation, or hospital expenses, which provides coverage for outpatient services shall provide to each group, or to the portion of each group comprised of certificate holders of such insurance who are residents of this state, coverage for expenses arising from the services of licensed and credentialed occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and clinical social workers working with children from birth to 36 months of age with an identified developmental disability and/or delay as specified in rules adopted pursuant to RSA 171-A:18, IV as long as the providing therapist receives a referral from the child’s primary care physician if applicable. The benefits included in this section may be subject to deductibles, copayments, co-insurance, or other terms and conditions of the policy, and may have a cap of $3,200 per child per year not to exceed $9,600 by the child’s third birthday. Notwithstanding any provision of law or rule to the contrary, the coverage under this section shall apply to the medical assistance program, pursuant to RSA 161 and RSA 167.
338:4 New Section; Managed Care; Coverage for Children’s Early Intervention Services. Amend RSA 420-B by inserting after section 8-p the following new section:
420-B:8-q Coverage for Children’s Early Intervention Services. Every health maintenance organization and every similar corporation licensed under the laws of another state that issues or renews any policy, plan, or contract of individual or group or blanket health insurance providing benefits for medical, rehabilitation, or hospital expenses, shall provide to each individual or group, or to the portion of each group comprised of certificate holders of such insurance who are residents of this state, coverage for expenses arising from the services of licensed and credentialed occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and clinical social workers working with children from birth to 36 months of age with an identified developmental disability and/or delay as specified in rules adopted pursuant to RSA 171-A:18, IV as long as the providing therapist receives a referral from the child’s primary care physician if applicable. The benefits included in this section may be subject to deductibles, copayments, co-insurance, or other terms and conditions of the policy, and may have a cap of $3,200 per child per year not to exceed $9,600 by the child’s third birthday. Notwithstanding any provision of law or rule to the contrary, the coverage under this section shall apply to the medical assistance program, pursuant to RSA 161 and RSA 167.
338:5 Contingency. If HB 921 of the 2007 legislative session becomes law, then RSA 420-B:8-q as inserted by section 4 of this act shall be renumbered as RSA 420-B:8-r.
338:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: July 16, 2007
Effective: September 14, 2007