SB1268 - 542R

REFERENCE TITLE: health care insurance; hearing aids

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fourth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2020

SB 1268

Introduced by

Senators Mendez: Gonzales, Quezada, Rios; Representative Salman

AN ACT

Amending title 20, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 20‑123; Amending title 20, chapter 4, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 20‑826.05; amending title 20, chapter 4, article 9, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 20‑1057.18; amending title 20, chapter 6, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 20‑1342.07; amending title 20, chapter 6, article 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding sections 20‑1402.05 and 20‑1404.05; amending title 20, chapter 13, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 20‑2333; relating to health care insurance.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 20, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 20-123, to read:

START_STATUTE20-123. Coverage rates for hearing aids; approved provider list; definition

A. The department shall annually establish minimum coverage rates and coverage limits for adult and child hearing aids for each deaf or hard of hearing ear that would allow for at least one hundred percent coverage of reasonable and customary hearing aids.

B. Every two years the department shall establish an approved list of audiologists who are licensed pursuant to title 36, chapter 17, article 4 and hearing aid dispensers who are licensed pursuant to title 36, chapter 17, article 2 that health care insurers in this state shall use to provide services for their subscribers, enrollees and insureds.

C. For the purposes of this section, "health care insurer" means a service corporation, health care services organization, disability insurer, group disability insurer, blanket disability insurer or accountable health plan. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Title 20, chapter 4, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 20-826.05, to read:

START_STATUTE20-826.05. Subscription contracts; hearing aids

A. A subscription contract shall provide coverage in accordance with section 20‑123 for the purchase of a hearing aid for each deaf or hard of hearing ear for a subscriber who is covered under the subscription contract.

B. A physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17 or an audiologist who is licensed pursuant to title 36, chapter 17, article 4 shall document the hearing loss for which hearing aid coverage applies in each deaf or hard of hearing ear.

C. A subscriber may choose a higher priced hearing aid and may pay the difference in cost above the minimum coverage amount without any financial or contractual penalty to the subscriber or to the hearing aid provider. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Title 20, chapter 4, article 9, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 20-1057.18, to read:

START_STATUTE20-1057.18. Evidences of coverage; hearing aids

A. An evidence of coverage shall provide coverage in accordance with section 20‑123 for the purchase of a hearing aid for each deaf or hard of hearing ear for an enrollee who is covered under the evidence of coverage.

B. A physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17 or an audiologist who is licensed pursuant to title 36, chapter 17, article 4 shall document The hearing loss for which hearing aid coverage applies in each deaf or hard of hearing ear.

C. An enrollee may choose a higher priced hearing aid and may pay the difference in cost above the minimum coverage amount without any financial or contractual penalty to the enrollee or to the hearing aid provider. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Title 20, chapter 6, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 20-1342.07, to read:

START_STATUTE20-1342.07. Disability policies; hearing aids

A. A disability policy shall provide coverage in accordance with section 20‑123 for the purchase of a hearing aid for each deaf or hard of hearing ear for an insured who is covered under the disability policy.

C. An insured may choose a higher priced hearing aid and may pay the difference in cost above the minimum coverage amount without any financial or contractual penalty to the insured or to the hearing aid provider. END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Title 20, chapter 6, article 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding sections 20-1402.05 and 20-1404.05, to read:

START_STATUTE20-1402.05. Group disability policies; hearing aids

A. A group disability policy shall provide coverage in accordance with section 20‑123 for the purchase of a hearing aid for each deaf or hard of hearing ear for an insured who is covered under the group disability policy.

START_STATUTE20-1404.05. Blanket disability policies; hearing aids

A. A blanket disability policy shall provide coverage in accordance with section 20‑123 for the purchase of a hearing aid for each deaf or hard of hearing ear for an insured who is covered under the blanket disability policy.

Sec. 6. Title 20, chapter 13, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 20-2333, to read:

START_STATUTE20-2333. Health benefits plans; hearing aids

A. A health benefits plan shall provide coverage in accordance with section 20‑123 for the purchase of a hearing aid for each deaf or hard of hearing ear for an enrollee who is covered under the health benefits plan.