1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to insurance; mandating coverage for cochlear 
  1.3             implants; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
  1.4             Statutes, chapter 62A. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [62A.3093] [COVERAGE FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANTS.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [SCOPE OF COVERAGE.] This section applies 
  1.8   to all health plans as defined in section 62A.011, subdivision 
  1.9   3, including the coverages described in clauses (7) and (10) of 
  1.10  that subdivision. 
  1.11     Subd. 2.  [REQUIRED COVERAGE.] A health plan must provide 
  1.12  medical benefits for cochlear implantation, the cochlear 
  1.13  prosthesis, and associated surgical and medical costs, including 
  1.14  follow-up rehabilitation, speech therapy, auditory training, and 
  1.15  replacement to new technology.  This section requires coverage 
  1.16  only when the implantation satisfies criteria for cochlear 
  1.17  implantation established for the device by the federal Food and 
  1.18  Drug Administration. 
  1.19     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.] 
  1.20     Section 1 is effective August 1, 1998, and applies to 
  1.21  health plans issued, renewed, or continued, as defined in 
  1.22  Minnesota Statutes, section 60A.02, subdivision 2a, to provide 
  1.23  coverage to a Minnesota resident on or after that date.