§ 27-41-68. Coverage for early intervention services. (a) Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy or contract providing coverage for dependent children, delivered or renewed in this state on or after July 1, 2004, shall include coverage of early intervention services which coverage shall take effect no later than January 1, 2005. Such coverage shall be limited to a benefit of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per dependent child per policy or calendar year and shall not be subject to deductibles and coinsurance factors. Any amount paid by an insurer under this section for a dependent child shall not be applied to any annual or lifetime maximum benefit contained in the policy or contract. For the purpose of this section, "early intervention services" means, but is not limited to, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, evaluation, case management, nutrition, service plan development and review, nursing services, and assistive technology services and devices for dependents from birth to age three (3) who are certified by the department of human services as eligible for services under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1471 et seq.).

(b) Subject to the annual limits provided in this section, insurers shall reimburse certified early intervention providers, who are designated as such by the Department of Human Services, for early intervention services as defined in this section at rates of reimbursement equal to or greater than the prevailing integrated state/Medicaid rate for early intervention services as established by the Department of Human Services.

(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for: (1) hospital confinement indemnity; (2) disability income; (3) accident only; (4) long-term care; (5) Medicare supplement; (6) limited benefit health; (7) specified disease indemnity; (8) sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and (9) other limited benefit policies.

History of Section. (P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 22, § 4; P.L. 2004, ch. 598, § 5; P.L. 2005, ch. 97, § 4; P.L. 2005, ch. 99, § 4; P.L. 2008, ch. 475, § 94.)