HB 273 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HEALTH COVERAGE FOR SPEECH THERAPY.

Sen.Rep.

LockmanDorsey DELAWAREWalker STATE& SENATERep. 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE AMENDMENT NO.

1Longhurst TO& HOUSERep. SUBSTITUTE NO.

Minor- Brown & Rep.

Harris & Rep.

Lambert & Rep.

Romer & Sen.

Lockman & Sen.

Pinkney Reps.

Baumbach, Bush HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE SUBSTITUTE NO.

273 AN ACT TO AMEND HouseTITLE Substitute18 No.OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HEALTH COVERAGE FOR SPEECH THERAPY.

2BE forIT HouseENACTED BillBY No.THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

273Section by1. deleting lines 25 through 27 in their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“(d)Amend NothingChapter in33, thisTitle section18 preventsof the operationDelaware ofCode a policy provision required by thismaking sectiondeletions as ashown deductible,by coinsurance,strike allowablethrough chargeand limitation,insertions coordinationas ofshown benefits, or a provision restricting coverage to services by aunderline licensed,as certified,follows: or carrier-approved provider or facility.” FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No.

2§ for3360A. House Bill No.

273Developmentally bydelayed deletingspeech linescoverage. 52 through 54 in their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“(d)(a) NothingFor in this section prevents the operationpurpose of a policy provision required by this section as“child” ameans deductible, coinsurance, allowable charge limitation, coordination of benefits, or a provisionchild restrictingfrom coveragebirth to servicesage by18. a licensed, certified, or carrier-approved provider or facility.” SYNOPSIS This amendment clarifies that the coverages mandated by this bill may be subject to standard policy provisions such as deductibles, coinsurance, allowable charge limitations, coordination of benefits, or provisions restricting coverage to services by a licensed, certified, or carrier-approved provider or facility.

Author:(b) Every individual health insurance contract, including each policy or contract delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this State after December 31, 2024, shall provide coverage for any therapy or services required to treat a child diagnosed with any of the following speech-language disorders classified in the International Classification of Diseases (“ICD-10”):

Senator(1) LockmanChildhood SDonset :fluency disorder.

JH(2) :Developmental disorder of speech and language unspecified.

CBK(3) PageExpressive 1language ofdisorder. 1 Released:

05/15/2024(4) 03:56Mixed PMreceptive-expressive 4761520239language disorder.

(5) Phonological disorder.

(6) Receptive language disorder.

(7) Social pragmatic communication disorder.

(c) This section does not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits exclusively for:

(1) Hospital confinement indemnity.

(2) Disability income.

(3) Accident only.

(4) Long-term care.

HD :

MS :

DS Page 1 of 3 Released:

03/13/2024 11:39 AM (5) Medicare supplement.

(6) Limited benefit health.

(7) Specified disease indemnity.

(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident;

or both.

(d) The coverage required under this section shall not be subject to dollar limits, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions that are less favorable to an insured than the dollar limits, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions that apply to physical illness generally under the health benefit plan.

Section 2.