NY State Senate Bill 2021-S8684A

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 20, 2022	print number 8684a
May 20, 2022	amend and recommit to insurance
Mar 30, 2022	referred to insurance

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

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2021-S8684 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9572
Current Committee:: Senate Insurance
Law Section:: Insurance Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§3216, 3221 & 4303, Ins L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S1474, A142

2021-S8684 - Summary

Requires coverage for hearing 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 Association following medical clearance by a physician licensed to practice medicine and an audiological evaluation.

2021-S8684 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8684

SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
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, individuals, or groups under contracts
issued in this state to provide coverage for hearing aids.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1, 2 and 3 provides for the definition of hearing aid, and the
parties that shall provide hearing aid coverage.

Section 4 provides for the effective date

JUSTIFICATION:

According to the Center for Disease Control: 7.1% of the population aged
45 and older used a hearing aid: 8.9% of men and 5.4% of women.  The
National Health Foundation survey found out hearing aid use increased
with age, from 2.3% among those aged 45-64 to 14.4% of those aged 65 and
over. Hearing aid use was higher among men than women 45 years and
older. In 2019, 13.0% of adults aged 18 and over had some difficulty
hearing even when using a hearing aid, and 1.6% either had a lot of
difficulty hearing or could not hear at all, even when using a hearing
aid according to the National Health Interview Survey.

In 2017, the Hearing Health Foundation, a group that funds research and
advocates for treatments and cures for hearing loss, completed a survey;
they discovered 40 percent of their participants had no hearing aid
coverage through their health insurance. Based on the data presented
above, we can all conclude that it is evident hearing loss can have
significant impacts on an individual's ability to fully participate in
society, thus can adversely affect their quality of life.

This legislation mandates all managed care organizations that provide
hospital, medical, or surgical benefits, individuals, or groups under
contracts issued in this state to provide coverage for hearing aids.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such date.

2021-S8684 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8684
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 30, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. PERSAUD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
 
 AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to the mandatory coverage
   of hearing aids by insurers and other organizations
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Subsection  (i)  of  section 3216 of the insurance law is
 amended by adding a new paragraph 36 to read as follows:
   (36) (A) AS USED IN THIS PARAGRAPH, "HEARING AID" SHALL MEAN  A  MEDI-
 CALLY-PRESCRIBED,  NON-DISPOSABLE DEVICE THAT IS OF A DESIGN AND CIRCUI-
 TRY TO OPTIMIZE AUDITION AND LISTENING SKILLS.
   (B) THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES:
   (I) INSURERS AND NONPROFIT HEALTH SERVICE PLANS, INCLUDING THE  OFFICE
 OF  GROUP BENEFITS, THAT PROVIDE HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS
 TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS  ON  AN  EXPENSE-INCURRED  BASIS  UNDER  HEALTH
 INSURANCE  POLICIES  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
 HEARING  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 AN AUDIOLOGICAL EVALUATION, PROVIDED:
   (I)  AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS PARAGRAPH MAY LIMIT THE BENEFIT PAYABLE
 UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER HEARING AID  FOR  EACH
 HEARING-IMPAIRED EAR EVERY 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
 PAYABLE UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH WITHOUT FINANCIAL OR CONTRACTUAL PENALTY TO
 THE PROVIDER OF THE HEARING AID.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD15037-01-2
 S. 8684                             2
 
   (III) IN THE CASE OF A HEALTH INSURER  OR  MANAGED  CARE  ORGANIZATION
 THAT  ADMINISTERS  BENEFITS  ACCORDING  TO  CONTRACTS  WITH  HEALTH CARE
 PROVIDERS, HEARING AIDS COVERED PURSUANT  TO  THIS  PARAGRAPH  SHALL  BE
 OBTAINED  FROM  HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS CONTRACTED WITH THE HEALTH INSURER
 OR  MANAGED  CARE  ORGANIZATION.  SUCH PROVIDERS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE
 SAME CONTRACTING AND CREDENTIALING  REQUIREMENTS  THAT  APPLY  TO  OTHER
 CONTRACTED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.
   (D)  THIS  PARAGRAPH  DOES  NOT  PROHIBIT  AN  ENTITY  SUBJECT  TO THE
 PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH FROM PROVIDING COVERAGE THAT IS GREATER  OR
 MORE  FAVORABLE  TO  AN INSURED OR ENROLLED INDIVIDUAL THAN THE COVERAGE
 REQUIRED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH.
   (E) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL APPLY TO  ANY  NEW  POLICY,
 CONTRACT, PROGRAM, OR PLAN ISSUED BY AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS
 OF  THIS PARAGRAPH ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE.
 ANY SUCH POLICY, CONTRACT, PROGRAM OR PLAN IN EFFECT  PRIOR  TO  JANUARY
 FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE SHALL CONVERT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
 PARAGRAPH  ON  OR  BEFORE THE RENEWAL DATE THEREOF BUT IN NO EVENT LATER
 THAN JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE. ANY  POLICY  AFFECTED  BY
 THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL APPLY TO AN INSURED OR PARTIC-
 IPANT UNDER SUCH POLICY, CONTRACT, PROGRAM, OR PLAN WHETHER OR  NOT  THE
 HEARING IMPAIRMENT IS A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION OF THE INSURED OR PARTIC-
 IPANT.
   §  2.  Section  3221  of  the insurance law is amended by adding a new
 subsection (u) to read as follows:
   (U) (1) AS USED IN THIS SUBSECTION, "HEARING AID" SHALL MEAN  A  MEDI-
 CALLY-PRESCRIBED,  NON-DISPOSABLE DEVICE THAT IS OF A DESIGN AND CIRCUI-
 TRY TO OPTIMIZE AUDITION AND LISTENING.
   (2) THIS SUBSECTION SHALL APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES:
   (A) INSURERS AND NONPROFIT HEALTH SERVICE PLANS, INCLUDING THE  OFFICE
 OF  GROUP BENEFITS, THAT PROVIDE HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS
 TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS  ON  AN  EXPENSE-INCURRED  BASIS  UNDER  HEALTH
 INSURANCE  POLICIES  OR  CONTRACTS  THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THIS
 STATE.
   (B) 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.
   (3) AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SUBSECTION SHALL  PROVIDE  COVERAGE  FOR
 HEARING  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 AN AUDIOLOGICAL EVALUATION, PROVIDED:
   (A) AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SUBSECTION MAY LIMIT THE BENEFIT PAYABLE
 UNDER  THIS SUBSECTION TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER HEARING AID FOR EACH
 HEARING-IMPAIRED EAR EVERY TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS.
   (B) AN INSURED OR ENROLLED INDIVIDUAL MAY CHOOSE A HEARING AID THAT IS
 PRICED HIGHER THAN THE BENEFIT PAYABLE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION AND MAY PAY
 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PRICE OF THE  HEARING  AID  AND  THE  BENEFIT
 PAYABLE  UNDER  THIS SUBSECTION WITHOUT FINANCIAL OR CONTRACTUAL PENALTY
 TO THE PROVIDER OF THE HEARING AID.
   (C) IN THE CASE OF A HEALTH INSURER OR MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATION  THAT
 ADMINISTERS  BENEFITS ACCORDING TO CONTRACTS WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS,
 HEARING AIDS COVERED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE OBTAINED  FROM
 HEALTH  CARE  PROVIDERS  CONTRACTED WITH   THE HEALTH INSURER OR MANAGED
 CARE ORGANIZATION. SUCH PROVIDERS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME CONTRACT-
 S. 8684                             3
 
 ING AND CREDENTIALING REQUIREMENTS THAT APPLY TO OTHER CONTRACTED HEALTH
 CARE PROVIDERS.
   (4)  THIS  SUBSECTION  DOES  NOT  PROHIBIT  AN  ENTITY  SUBJECT TO THE
 PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION FROM PROVIDING COVERAGE THAT IS GREATER OR
 MORE FAVORABLE TO AN INSURED OR ENROLLED INDIVIDUAL  THAN  THE  COVERAGE
 REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION.
   (5)  THE  PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL APPLY TO ANY NEW POLICY,
 CONTRACT, PROGRAM, OR PLAN ISSUED BY AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS
 OF THIS SUBSECTION ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE.
 ANY SUCH POLICY, CONTRACT, PROGRAM OR PLAN IN EFFECT  PRIOR  TO  JANUARY
 FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE SHALL CONVERT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
 SUBSECTION  ON  OR BEFORE THE RENEWAL DATE THEREOF BUT IN NO EVENT LATER
 THAN JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE. ANY  POLICY  AFFECTED  BY
 THE  PROVISIONS  OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL APPLY TO AN INSURED OR PARTIC-
 IPANT UNDER SUCH POLICY, CONTRACT, PROGRAM, OR PLAN WHETHER OR  NOT  THE
 HEARING IMPAIRMENT IS A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION OF THE INSURED OR PARTIC-
 IPANT.
   §  3.  Section  4303  of  the insurance law is amended by adding a new
 subsection (ss) to read as follows:
   (SS)(1) AS USED IN THIS SUBSECTION, "HEARING AID" SHALL MEAN  A  MEDI-
 CALLY-PRESCRIBED,  NON-DISPOSABLE DEVICE THAT IS OF A DESIGN AND CIRCUI-
 TRY TO OPTIMIZE AUDITION AND LISTENING.
   (2) THIS SUBSECTION SHALL APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES:
   (A) INSURERS AND NONPROFIT HEALTH SERVICE PLANS, INCLUDING THE  OFFICE
 OF  GROUP BENEFITS, THAT PROVIDE HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS
 TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS  ON  AN  EXPENSE-INCURRED  BASIS  UNDER  HEALTH
 INSURANCE  POLICIES  OR  CONTRACTS  THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THIS
 STATE.
   (B) 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.
   (3) AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SUBSECTION SHALL  PROVIDE  COVERAGE  FOR
 HEARING  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 AN AUDIOLOGICAL EVALUATION, PROVIDED:
   (A) AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SUBSECTION MAY LIMIT THE BENEFIT PAYABLE
 UNDER  THIS SUBSECTION TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER HEARING AID FOR EACH
 HEARING-IMPAIRED EAR EVERY TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS.
   (B) AN INSURED OR ENROLLED INDIVIDUAL MAY CHOOSE A HEARING AID THAT IS
 PRICED  HIGHER THEN THE BENEFIT PAYABLE UNDER THIS  SUBSECTION  AND  MAY
 PAY  THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PRICE OF THE HEARING AID AND THE BENEFIT
 PAYABLE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION WITHOUT FINANCIAL OR  CONTRACTUAL  PENALTY
 TO THE PROVIDER OF THE HEARING AID.
   (C)  IN  THE  CASE  OF THE HEALTH INSURER OR MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATION
 THAT ADMINISTERS  BENEFITS  ACCORDING  TO  CONTRACTS  WITH  HEALTH  CARE
 PROVIDERS,  HEARING  AIDS  COVERED  PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE
 OBTAINED FROM HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS CONTRACTED WITH THE  HEALTH  INSURER
 OR  MANAGED  CARE  ORGANIZATION.  SUCH PROVIDERS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE
 SAME CONTRACTING AND CREDENTIALING  REQUIREMENTS  THAT  APPLY  TO  OTHER
 CONTRACTED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.
   (4)  THIS  SUBSECTION  DOES  NOT  PROHIBIT  AN  ENTITY  SUBJECT TO THE
 PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION FROM PROVIDING COVERAGE THAT IS GREATER OR
 MORE FAVORABLE TO AN INSURED OR ENROLLED INDIVIDUAL  THAN  THE  COVERAGE
 REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION.
 S. 8684                             4

   (5)  THE  PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL APPLY TO ANY NEW POLICY,
 CONTRACT, PROGRAM, OR PLAN ISSUED BY AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS
 OF THIS SUBSECTION ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE.
 ANY SUCH POLICY, CONTRACT, PROGRAM OR PLAN IN EFFECT  PRIOR  TO  JANUARY
 FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE SHALL CONVERT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
 SUBSECTION  ON  OR BEFORE THE RENEWAL DATE THEREOF BUT IN NO EVENT LATER
 THAN JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE. ANY  POLICY  AFFECTED  BY
 THE  PROVISIONS  OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL APPLY TO AN INSURED OR PARTIC-
 IPANT UNDER SUCH POLICY, CONTRACT, PROGRAM, OR PLAN WHETHER OR  NOT  THE
 HEARING IMPAIRMENT IS A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION OF THE INSURED OR PARTIC-
 IPANT.
   §  4.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary  for  the  implementation  of
 this  act  on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
 on or before such date.

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2021-S8684A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9572
Current Committee:: Senate Insurance
Law Section:: Insurance Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§3216, 3221 & 4303, Ins L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S1474, A142

2021-S8684A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S8684A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8684A

SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
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, individuals, or groups under contracts
issued in this state to provide coverage for hearing aids.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section. 1, 2 and 3 provides for the definition of hearing aid, and the
parties that shall provide hearing aid coverage.

Section 4 provides for the effective date

JUSTIFICATION:

According to the Center for Disease Control: 7.1% of the population aged
45 and older used a hearing aid: 8.9% of men and 5.4% of women.  The
National Health Foundation survey found out hearing aid use increased
with age, from 2.3% among those aged 45-64 to 14.4% of those aged 65 and
over. Hearing aid use was higher among men than women 45 years and
older. In 2019, 13.0% of adults aged 18 and over had some difficulty
hearing even when using a hearing aid, and 1.6?; either had a lot of
difficulty hearing or could not hear at all, even when using a hearing
aid according to the National Health Interview Survey.

In 2017, the Hearing Health Foundation, a group that funds research and
advocates for treatments and cures for hearing loss, completed a survey;
they discovered 40 percent of their participants had no hearing aid
coverage through their health insurance. Based on the data presented
above, we can all conclude that it is evident hearing loss can have
significant impacts on an individual's ability to fully participate in
society, thus can adversely affect their quality of life.

This legislation mandates all managed care organizations that provide
hospital, medical, or surgical benefits, individuals, or groups under
contracts issued in this state to provide coverage for hearing aids.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all policies
and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on or after
such date. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal
of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act
on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or
before such date.

2021-S8684A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8684--A
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 30, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. PERSAUD, ADDABBO, BIAGGI, COMRIE, GAUGHRAN, HOYLMAN,
   SALAZAR  --  read  twice  and  ordered printed, and when printed to be
   committed to the Committee on Insurance -- committee discharged,  bill
   amended,  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
   tee
 
 AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to the mandatory coverage
   of hearing aids by insurers and other organizations
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subsection  (i)  of  section 3216 of the insurance law is
 amended by adding a new paragraph 37 to read as follows:
   (37) (A) AS USED IN THIS PARAGRAPH, "HEARING AID" SHALL MEAN  A  MEDI-
 CALLY-PRESCRIBED,  NON-DISPOSABLE DEVICE THAT IS OF A DESIGN AND CIRCUI-
 TRY TO OPTIMIZE AUDITION AND LISTENING SKILLS.
   (B) EVERY POLICY WHICH PROVIDES HOSPITAL, MEDICAL OR SURGICAL COVERAGE
 SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR HEARING AIDS FOR PATIENTS IF THE HEARING AIDS
 ARE FITTED AND DISPENSED BY A  LICENSED  AUDIOLOGIST  CERTIFIED  BY  THE
 AMERICAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION FOLLOWING MEDICAL CLEARANCE
 BY  A PHYSICIAN LICENSED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE AND AN AUDIOLOGICAL EVALU-
 ATION, PROVIDED AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS PARAGRAPH MAY LIMIT THE  BENE-
 FIT  PAYABLE  UNDER  THIS PARAGRAPH TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER HEARING
 AID FOR EACH HEARING-IMPAIRED EAR EVERY TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS.
   (C) THIS  PARAGRAPH  DOES  NOT  PROHIBIT  AN  ENTITY  SUBJECT  TO  THE
 PROVISIONS  OF THIS PARAGRAPH FROM PROVIDING COVERAGE THAT IS GREATER OR
 MORE FAVORABLE TO AN INSURED OR ENROLLED.
   § 2. Section 3221 of the insurance law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subsection (u) to read as follows:
   (U)  (1)  AS USED IN THIS SUBSECTION, "HEARING AID" SHALL MEAN A MEDI-
 CALLY-PRESCRIBED, NON-DISPOSABLE DEVICE THAT IS OF A DESIGN AND  CIRCUI-
 TRY TO OPTIMIZE AUDITION AND LISTENING.
   (2) EVERY POLICY WHICH PROVIDES HOSPITAL, MEDICAL OR SURGICAL COVERAGE
 SHALL  PROVIDE  COVERAGE  FOR  HEARING AIDS FOR PATIENTS IF SUCH HEARING
 AIDS ARE FITTED AND DISPENSED BY A LICENSED AUDIOLOGIST CERTIFIED BY THE
 AMERICAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION, FOLLOWING  MEDICAL  CLEAR-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD15037-03-2
 S. 8684--A                          2
 
 ANCE  BY  A PHYSICIAN LICENSED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE, AND AN AUDIOLOGICAL
 EVALUATION, PROVIDED AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SUBSECTION MAY LIMIT  THE
 BENEFIT PAYABLE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER HEAR-
 ING AID FOR EACH HEARING-IMPAIRED EAR EVERY TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS.
   (3)  THIS  SUBSECTION  DOES  NOT  PROHIBIT  AN  ENTITY  SUBJECT TO THE
 PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION FROM PROVIDING COVERAGE THAT IS GREATER OR
 MORE FAVORABLE TO AN INSURED OR ENROLLED INDIVIDUAL.
   § 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subsection (tt) to read as follows:
   (TT)(1)  AS  USED IN THIS SUBSECTION, "HEARING AID" SHALL MEAN A MEDI-
 CALLY-PRESCRIBED, NON-DISPOSABLE DEVICE THAT IS OF A DESIGN AND  CIRCUI-
 TRY TO OPTIMIZE AUDITION AND LISTENING.
   (2) EVERY POLICY WHICH PROVIDES HOSPITAL, MEDICAL OR SURGICAL COVERAGE
 SHALL  PROVIDE  COVERAGE  FOR  HEARING AIDS FOR PATIENTS IF SUCH HEARING
 AIDS ARE FITTED AND DISPENSED BY A LICENSED AUDIOLOGIST CERTIFIED BY THE
 AMERICAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION, FOLLOWING  MEDICAL  CLEAR-
 ANCE  BY  A PHYSICIAN LICENSED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE, AND AN AUDIOLOGICAL
 EVALUATION, PROVIDED AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SUBSECTION MAY LIMIT  THE
 BENEFIT PAYABLE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER HEAR-
 ING AID FOR EACH HEARING-IMPAIRED EAR EVERY TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS.
   (3)  THIS  SUBSECTION  DOES  NOT  PROHIBIT  AN  ENTITY  SUBJECT TO THE
 PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION FROM PROVIDING COVERAGE THAT IS GREATER OR
 MORE FAVORABLE TO AN INSURED OR ENROLLED INDIVIDUAL.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next  succeed-
 ing  the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all
 policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on
 or after such date.   Effective  immediately,  the  addition,  amendment
 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
 of  this  act  on  its  effective  date  are  authorized  to be made and
 completed on or before such date.

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Senate Bill S8684A

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2021-S8684 - Details

2021-S8684 - Summary

2021-S8684 - Sponsor Memo

2021-S8684 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2021-S8684A (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S8684A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S8684A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S8684A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S8684A

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2021-S8684 - Details

2021-S8684 - Summary

2021-S8684 - Sponsor Memo

2021-S8684 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2021-S8684A (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S8684A (ACTIVE) - Summary

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