17:48E-35.10 Health service corporation contracts, child screening, blood lead, hearing loss; immunizations.

1. No health service corporation contract providing hospital or medical expense benefits for groups with greater than 50 persons shall be delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance on or after the effective date of P.L.2005, c.248 (C.17:48E-35.27 et al.), unless the contract provides benefits to any named subscriber or other person covered thereunder for expenses incurred in the following:

a. Screening by blood lead measurement for lead poisoning for children, including confirmatory blood lead testing as specified by the Department of Health pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1995, c.316 (C.26:2-137.1); and medical evaluation and any necessary medical follow-up and treatment for lead poisoned children.

b. All childhood immunizations as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Public Health Service and the Department of Health pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1995, c.316 (C.26:2-137.1). A health service corporation shall notify its subscribers, in writing, of any change in coverage with respect to childhood immunizations and any related changes in premium. The notification shall be in a form and manner to be determined by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance.

c. Screening for newborn hearing loss by appropriate electrophysiologic screening measures and periodic monitoring of infants for delayed onset hearing loss, pursuant to P.L.2001, c.373 (C.26:2-103.1 et al.). Payment for this screening service shall be separate and distinct from payment for routine new baby care in the form of a newborn hearing screening fee as negotiated with the provider and facility.

The benefits provided pursuant to this section shall be provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under the contract, except that a deductible shall not be applied for benefits provided pursuant to this section; however, with respect to a contract that qualifies as a high deductible health plan for which qualified medical expenses are paid using a health savings account established pursuant to section 223 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. s.223), a deductible shall not be applied for any benefits provided pursuant to this section which represent preventive care as permitted by that federal law, and shall not be applied as provided pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2005, c.248 (C.17:48E-35.28). This section shall apply to all health service corporation contracts in which the health service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.

L.1995, c.316, s.1; amended 2001, c.373, s.10; 2005, c.248, s.1; 2012, c.17, s.38.