Bill S.80

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 62 FILED ON: 1/12/2009

SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 80

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act providing for insurance coverage for vision screening for children.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 17H the following section:

Section 17I. The commission shall provide to any active or retired employee of the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission coverage for the cost of a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of Chapter 71, as most recently amended by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, the commission shall provide coverage of a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary.

SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10A the following section:

Section 10B. The division shall provide coverage for the cost of a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of Chapter 71, as most recently amended by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, the division shall provide coverage of a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary.

SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 110l the following section:

Section 11OM. Any policy, contract, agreement, plan, or certificate of insurance issued, delivered, or renewed within the Commonwealth shall cover a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of Chapter 71, as most recently amended by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, coverage shall be provided for a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary.

SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after section 8V the following section:-

Section 8W. Any policy, contract, agreement, plan, or certificate of insurance issued, delivered, or renewed within the Commonwealth shall cover a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of Chapter 71, as most recently amended by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

SECTION 5. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4V the following section:-

Section 4W. Any policy, contract, agreement, plan, or certificate of insurance issued, delivered, or renewed within the Commonwealth shall cover a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of Chapter 71, as most recently amended by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4N the following section:-

Section 4O. Any policy, contract, agreement, plan, or certificate of insurance issued, delivered, or renewed within the Commonwealth shall cover a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of Chapter 71, as most recently amended by Chapter 181 of the Acts of 2004. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.