Bill Text - HB1233 (2020)

Relative to coverage for children's early intervention services.


Revision: March 31, 2020, 2:28 p.m.

HB 1233-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

11Mar2020... 0341h

2020 SESSION

20-2446

01/10

 

HOUSE BILL 1233-FN

 

AN ACT relative to coverage for children's early intervention services.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Wallner, Merr. 10; Rep. Nordgren, Graf. 12

 

COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill clarifies the law regarding insurance benefits for children's early intervention services.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11Mar2020... 0341h 20-2446

01/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT relative to coverage for children's early intervention services.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Coverage for Children's Early Intervention Services; Individual.  Amend RSA 415:6-n to read as follows:

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] provider if applicable.  The benefits [included in this section may be subject to deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, or other terms and conditions of the policy, and] in this section shall not be subject to deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance; provided that the benefits included in this section 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.

2  Coverage for Children's Early Intervention Services; Group.  Amend RSA 415:18-s to read as follows:

415:18-s  Coverage for Children's Early Intervention Services.  Each insurer that issues or renews any policy of group 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] provider 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] in this section shall not be subject to deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance; provided that the benefits included in this section 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.

3  Coverage for Children's Early Intervention Services; Health Service Corporations.  Amend RSA 420-A:17-g to read as follows:

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 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] provider 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] in this section shall not be subject to deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance; provided that the benefits included in this section 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.

4  Coverage for Children's Early Intervention Services; Health Maintenance Organizations.  Amend RSA 420-B:8-r to read as follows:

420-B:8-r  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 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] provider 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] in this section shall not be subject to deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance; provided that the benefits included in this section 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.

5  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBAO

20-2446

Amended 3/20/20

 

HB 1233-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2020-0341h)

 

AN ACT relative to coverage for children's early intervention services.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [ X ] County               [ X ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

FY 2023

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

   Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [    ] Other

 

 

 

 

 

COUNTY:

 

 

 

 

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

 

 

 

 

 

LOCAL:

 

 

 

 

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill prohibits insurers from applying deductibles, copays and coinsurance to coverage for children's early intervention services. The Insurance Department indicates this bill will increase the cost of coverage and assumes the number of claims will also increase.  An increase in claim costs may result in increased premiums and premium tax revenue.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Insurance Department and Departments of Health and Human Services and Education