- Summary
- Actions
- Committee Votes
- Floor Votes
- Memo
- Text
- LFIN
- Chamber Video/Transcript
A02325 Memo:
Go to topNEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to the mandatory coverage of hearing aids by insurers and other organizations PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To require all managed care organizations that provide hospital, medical, or surgical benefits to individuals or groups under contracts that are issued in this state to provide coverage for hearing aids. SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1. Subdivision (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 34 to read as follows: (A) As used in this paragraph, "hearing aid" shall mean a non-disposable device that is of a design and circuitry to optimize audition and listening skills in the environment commonly experienced by children. (B) This paragraph shall apply to the following entities: (i) Insurers and nonprofit health service plans, including the office of group bene- fits, that provide hospital, medical, or surgical benefits to individ- uals or groups on an expense-incurred basis under health insurance poli- cies or contracts that are issued or delivered in this state. (ii) Managed care organizations as defined and licensed by state law that provide hospital, medical or surgical benefits to individuals or groups under contracts that are issued or delivered in this state. (C) An entity subject to this paragraph shall provide coverage for hear- ing aids for patients who are covered under a policy or contract of insurance if the hearing aids are fitted and dispensed by a licensed audiologist certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Associ- ation following medical clearance by a physician licensed to practice medicine and a audiological evaluation medically appropriate to the age of the child, provided; (i)an entity subject to this paragraph may limit the benefit payable under this paragraph to three thousand dollars per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear twenty-four months (ii) an insured or enrolled individual may choose a hearing aid that is priced higher than the benefit payable under this paragraph and may pay the difference between the price of the hearing aid and the benefit had on the state economy and thereby expend state resources in the most effective manner possible based upon the results of this study. PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: A3409 2017-2018 Legislative Session 2013-14: S.3503 Referred to Economic Development 2009-12: S.2168/A.10133 - Referred to Economic Development This legis- lation was initially introduced in 2006 as A.12047. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.