2017 -- H 5626

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LC001282

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- COMMUNICATION ACCESS SERVICES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Nardolillo, Marszalkowski, Vella-Wilkinson,
and Donovan

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness

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Insurance Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     27-18-83. Communication access services.

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     (a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group

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hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery,

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or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2018, shall provide coverage for effective

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communication access services for the deaf and hard of hearing patients or identified clients.

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     (b) For the purposes of this section:

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     (1) "Communication access services" means any effective communication access

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services recognized by either the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities

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Act to guarantee full communication access between the patients or identified clients who are

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deaf and hard of hearing and doctors or other health care professionals to ensure that each party is

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understood regarding their health needs and treatments. Examples of effective communication

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access services are interpreters for the deaf, communication access real-time translation (CART)

15

service, remote video interpreting service for the deaf, remote CART service, etc.

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     (c) This section shall not apply to equipment purchased as part of communication access

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accommodations. Examples are TTYs, videophones, assistive listening devices, etc.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service

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Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

 

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     27-19-74. Communication access services.

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     (a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group

3

hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery,

4

or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2018, shall provide coverage for effective

5

communication access services for the deaf and hard of hearing patients or identified clients.

6

     (b) For the purposes of this section:

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     (1) "Communication access services" means any effective communication access

8

services recognized by either the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities

9

Act to guarantee full communication access between the patients or identified clients who are

10

deaf and hard of hearing and doctors or other health care professionals to ensure that each party is

11

understood regarding their health needs and treatments. Examples of effective communication

12

access services are interpreters for the deaf, communication access real-time translation (CART)

13

service, remote video interpreting service for the deaf, remote CART service, etc.

14

     (c) This section shall not apply to equipment purchased as part of communication access

15

accommodations. Examples are TTYs, videophones, assistive listening devices, etc.

16

     SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service

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Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     27-20-70. Communication access services.

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     (a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group

20

hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery,

21

or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2018, shall provide coverage for effective

22

communication access services for the deaf and hard of hearing patients or identified clients.

23

     (b) For the purposes of this section:

24

     (1) "Communication access services" means any effective communication access

25

services recognized by either the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities

26

Act to guarantee full communication access between the patients or identified clients who are

27

deaf and hard of hearing and doctors or other health care professionals to ensure that each party is

28

understood regarding their health needs and treatments. Examples of effective communication

29

access services are interpreters for the deaf, communication access real-time translation (CART)

30

service, remote video interpreting service for the deaf, remote CART service, etc.

31

     (c) This section shall not apply to equipment purchased as part of communication access

32

accommodations. Examples are TTYs, videophones, assistive listening devices, etc.

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     SECTION 4. Chapter 27-38.2 of the General Laws entitled "Insurance Coverage for

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Mental Illness and Substance Abuse" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

 

LC001282 - Page 2 of 5

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     27-38.2-6. Communication access services.

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     (a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group

3

hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery,

4

or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2018, shall provide coverage for effective

5

communication access services for the deaf and hard of hearing patients or identified clients.

6

     (b) For the purposes of this section:

7

     (1) "Communication access services" means any effective communication access

8

services recognized by either the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities

9

Act to guarantee full communication access between the patients or identified clients who are

10

deaf and hard of hearing and doctors or other health care professionals to ensure that each party is

11

understood regarding their health needs and treatments. Examples of effective communication

12

access services are interpreters for the deaf, communication access real-time translation (CART)

13

service, remote video interpreting service for the deaf, remote CART service, etc.

14

     (c) This section shall not apply to equipment purchased as part of communication access

15

accommodations. Examples are TTYs, videophones, assistive listening devices, etc.

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     SECTION 5. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance

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Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     27-41-87. Communication access services.

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     (a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group

20

hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery,

21

or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2018, shall provide coverage for effective

22

communication access services for the deaf and hard of hearing patients or identified clients.

23

     (b) For the purposes of this section:

24

     (1) "Communication access services" means any effective communication access

25

services recognized by either the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities

26

Act to guarantee full communication access between the patients or identified clients who are

27

deaf and hard of hearing and doctors or other health care professionals to ensure that each party is

28

understood regarding their health needs and treatments. Examples of effective communication

29

access services are interpreters for the deaf, communication access real-time translation (CART)

30

service, remote video interpreting service for the deaf, remote CART service, etc.

31

     (c) This section shall not apply to equipment purchased as part of communication access

32

accommodations. Examples are TTYs, videophones, assistive listening devices, etc.

 

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     SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- COMMUNICATION ACCESS SERVICES

***

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     This act would require insurance plans to include coverage for effective communication

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access services between patients who are deaf and their health care professionals in order to

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ensure that their health needs and treatments are clearly communicated and understood.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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