376.1220. Insurance coverage for newborn hearing screenings mandated.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

376.1220. Insurance coverage for newborn hearing screenings mandated.

Insurance coverage for newborn hearing screenings mandated.

376.1220. 1. Each policy issued by an entity offering individual andgroup health insurance which provides coverage on an expense-incurred basis,individual or group health service, or indemnity contracts issued by anonprofit corporation, individual and group service contracts issued by ahealth maintenance organization, all self-insured group health arrangements tothe extent not preempted by federal law, and all health care plans provided bymanaged health care delivery entities of any type or description that aredelivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this state shallprovide coverage for newborn hearing screening, necessary rescreening,audiological assessment and follow-up, and initial amplification.

2. The health care service required by this section shall not be subjectto any greater deductible or co-payment than other similar health careservices provided by the policy, contract or plan.

3. This section shall not apply to a supplemental insurance policy,including a life care contract, accident-only policy, specified diseasepolicy, hospital policy providing a fixed daily benefit only, Medicaresupplement policy, long-term care policy, short-term major medical policies ofsix months or less duration, or any other supplemental policy as determinedby the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions andprofessional registration.

4. Coverage for newborn hearing screening and any necessary rescreeningand audiological assessment shall be provided to newborns eligible for medicalassistance pursuant to section 208.151, RSMo, and the children's healthprogram pursuant to sections 208.631 to 208.660, RSMo, with payment for thenewborn hearing screening required in section 191.925, RSMo, and any necessaryrescreening, audiological assessment and follow-up, and amplification asdescribed in section 191.928, RSMo.