1 New Chapter; Children's Vision Screening Initiative. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 134 the following new chapter:

CHAPTER 134-A

CHILDREN'S VISION SCREENING INITIATIVE

134-A:1 Children's Vision Screening.

I. The department of health and human services shall seek funding for a Medicaid children's vision screening initiative program as part of the department's budget for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, and each biennium thereafter. The program shall provide reimbursement to optometrists, physicians, physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses who provide vision screening services to children between 0 and 6 years of age enrolled in the state Medicaid program. Providers who choose to participate in the program shall complete training approved by the department and submit evidence of program completion to the department, which shall maintain a list of trained providers. Program implementation, including adoption of rules required by paragraph II, and submission of a Medicaid state plan amendment as required by paragraph III, shall be contingent upon sufficient funding.

II. The commissioner of health and human services shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to administration of the children's vision screening initiative, including eligibility criteria, the type and frequency of services covered, reimbursement rates, and provider training requirements. The department also shall develop a list of approved training programs, which shall include, but may not be limited to, those offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Southern New Hampshire Area Health Education Center. Upon implementation of the program, the department shall provide, upon request, a list of qualified providers participating in the state Medicaid program to primary care providers in the vision screening initiative.

III. The department shall submit a Title XIX Medicaid state plan amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the purpose of establishing the children's vision screening initiative.

IV. The commissioner of health and human services, or designee, shall report annually to the health and human services oversight committee established in RSA 126-A:13 about the children's vision screening initiative.

2 New Paragraph; Child Care Resource and Referral Services. Amend RSA 170-E:5-a by inserting after paragraph XII the following new paragraph:

XIII. Provide access to annual vision screening for children under age 6.

3 New Section; Vision Screening of Pupils. Amend RSA 200 by inserting after section 32 the following new section:

200:32-a Vision Screening of Pupils. There shall be a vision screening by a licensed optometrist, physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse of each child prior to or upon first entry into the public school system and thereafter as often as deemed necessary by the local school authority. The result of the child's vision screening shall be presented to the local school officials on a form provided by the local school authorities. No vision screening examination shall be required of a child whose parent or guardian objects thereto in writing on the grounds that such vision screening examination is contrary to the child's religious tenets and teachings. A student is not required to submit to any vision screening required by this section if the parent or guardian submits a statement that the student received a comprehensive eye and vision examination in the last 12 months or if the student has a current diagnosis of permanent vision loss.

4 New Section; Special Vision Screening. Amend RSA 200 by inserting after section 200:34 the following new section:

200:34-a Special Vision Screening. Every child not reading at grade level by third grade, or at the request of their teacher shall be referred by the school physician or school administrator to the parents or guardian of said child for examination, and evaluation by a licensed optometrist, physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse and if said parents fail or neglect to have said child so examined and fail to present the recommendations from said examiner within a reasonable period after the referral by the school to said parents, then said child may be examined by the school physician, or other qualified personnel.

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

1 New Chapter; Children's Vision Screening Initiative. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 134 the following new chapter:

CHAPTER 134-A

CHILDREN'S VISION SCREENING INITIATIVE

134-A:1 Children's Vision Screening.

I. The department of health and human services shall seek funding for a Medicaid children's vision screening initiative program as part of the department's budget for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, and each biennium thereafter. The program shall provide reimbursement to optometrists, physicians, physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses who provide vision screening services to children between 0 and 6 years of age enrolled in the state Medicaid program. Providers who choose to participate in the program shall complete training approved by the department and submit evidence of program completion to the department, which shall maintain a list of trained providers. Program implementation, including adoption of rules required by paragraph II, and submission of a Medicaid state plan amendment as required by paragraph III, shall be contingent upon sufficient funding.

II. The commissioner of health and human services shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to administration of the children's vision screening initiative, including eligibility criteria, the type and frequency of services covered, reimbursement rates, and provider training requirements. The department also shall develop a list of approved training programs, which shall include, but may not be limited to, those offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Southern New Hampshire Area Health Education Center. Upon implementation of the program, the department shall provide, upon request, a list of qualified providers participating in the state Medicaid program to primary care providers in the vision screening initiative.

III. The department shall submit a Title XIX Medicaid state plan amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the purpose of establishing the children's vision screening initiative.

IV. The commissioner of health and human services, or designee, shall report annually to the health and human services oversight committee established in RSA 126-A:13 about the children's vision screening initiative.

2 New Paragraph; Child Care Resource and Referral Services. Amend RSA 170-E:5-a by inserting after paragraph XII the following new paragraph:

XIII. Provide access to annual vision screening for children under age 6.

3 New Section; Vision Screening of Pupils. Amend RSA 200 by inserting after section 32 the following new section:

200:32-a Vision Screening of Pupils. There shall be a vision screening by a licensed optometrist, physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse of each child prior to or upon first entry into the public school system and thereafter as often as deemed necessary by the local school authority. The result of the child's vision screening shall be presented to the local school officials on a form provided by the local school authorities. No vision screening examination shall be required of a child whose parent or guardian objects thereto in writing on the grounds that such vision screening examination is contrary to the child's religious tenets and teachings. A student is not required to submit to any vision screening required by this section if the parent or guardian submits a statement that the student received a comprehensive eye and vision examination in the last 12 months or if the student has a current diagnosis of permanent vision loss.

4 New Section; Special Vision Screening. Amend RSA 200 by inserting after section 200:34 the following new section:

200:34-a Special Vision Screening. Every child not reading at grade level by third grade, or at the request of their teacher shall be referred by the school physician or school administrator to the parents or guardian of said child for examination, and evaluation by a licensed optometrist, physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse and if said parents fail or neglect to have said child so examined and fail to present the recommendations from said examiner within a reasonable period after the referral by the school to said parents, then said child may be examined by the school physician, or other qualified personnel.

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