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Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 2, 3 and 4 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 2. 24-A MRSA §2762  is enacted to read:
§ 2762.  Coverage for hearing aids
 
1.  Hearing aid; definition.     For purposes of this section, "hearing aid" means a nonexperimental, wearable instrument or device designed for the ear and offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing, excluding batteries and cords and other assistive listening devices, including, but not limited to, frequency modulation systems.
 
2.  Required coverage.     All individual health policies and contracts must provide coverage for the purchase of a hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear for an individual covered under the policy or contract who is 18 years of age or under in accordance with the following requirements.
 
A.  The hearing loss must be documented by a physician or audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 77.
 
B.  The hearing aid must be purchased from an audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 77 or a hearing aid dealer licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 23-A.
 
C.  The policy or contract may limit coverage to $1,400 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.
 
3.  Limits; coinsurance; deductibles.     Except as otherwise provided in this section, any policy or contract that provides coverage for services under this section may contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section.
Sec. 3. 24-A MRSA §2847-M  is enacted to read:
§ 2847-M.  Coverage for hearing aids
 
1.  Hearing aid; definition.     For purposes of this section, "hearing aid" means a nonexperimental, wearable instrument or device designed for the ear and offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing, excluding batteries and cords and other assistive listening devices, including, but not limited to, frequency modulation systems.
 
2.  Required coverage.     All group health insurance policies, contracts and certificates must provide coverage for the purchase of a hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear for an individual covered under the policy, contract or certificate who is 18 years of age or under in accordance with the following requirements.
 
A.  The hearing loss must be documented by a physician or audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 77.
 
B.  The hearing aid must be purchased from an audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 77 or a hearing aid dealer licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 23-A.
 
C.  The policy, contract or certificate may limit coverage to $1,400 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.
 
3.  Limits; coinsurance; deductibles.     Except as otherwise provided in this section, any policy, contract or certificate that provides coverage for services under this section may contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section.
Sec. 4. 24-A MRSA §4253  is enacted to read:
§ 4253.  Coverage for hearing aids
 
1.  Hearing aid; definition.     For purposes of this section, "hearing aid" means a nonexperimental, wearable instrument or device designed for the ear and offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing, excluding batteries and cords and other assistive listening devices, including, but not limited to, frequency modulation systems.
 
2.  Required coverage.     All health maintenance organization individual and group health insurance contracts must provide coverage for the purchase of a hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear for an individual covered under the policy, contract or certificate who is 18 years of age or under in accordance with the following requirements.
 
A.  The hearing loss must be documented by a physician or audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 77.
 
B.  The hearing aid must be purchased from an audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 77 or a hearing aid dealer licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 23-A.
 
C.  The policy, contract or certificate may limit coverage to $1,400 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.
 
3.  Limits; coinsurance; deductibles.    Except as otherwise provided in this section, any contract that provides coverage for services under this section may contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section.’
Amend the bill by inserting after section 5 the following:
‘Sec. 6. Exemption from review. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 24-A, section 2752, this Act is enacted without review and evaluation by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance.
Sec. 7. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Salary Plan 0305
 
Initiative: Appropriates and allocates funds for the additional costs of health insurance to the State resulting from the requirement to provide coverage for hearing aids for persons 18 years of age or under and limits coverage to $1,400 per hearing aid every 36 months.

GENERAL FUND	2007-08	2008-09	
Personal Services	$0	$54,000	
 	  	  	
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$54,000	

HIGHWAY FUND	2007-08	2008-09	
Personal Services	$0	$21,000	
 	  	  	
HIGHWAY FUND TOTAL	$0	$21,000	
 
’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment requires health insurance policies, contracts and certificates to provide coverage for hearing aids for persons 18 years of age and under. The amendment allows insurance policies to limit coverage to $1,400 per hearing aid every 36 months. The bill would have required coverage for hearing aids for persons under 21 years of age without limits on the amount of coverage.
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section to the bill.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)