Early Intervention Changes
Posted on August 18, 2010
Early Intervention Mandate
On June 30, Governor Patrick signed the Massachusetts budget bill for fiscal year 2011. The budget bill included an amendment to existing insurance mandates, specifically regarding Early Intervention services. Health plans and insurers are prohibited from charging a copayment, co-insurance, or deductible1 for medically necessary early intervention services provided on or after July 1, 2010. This applies to services furnished by an early intervention provider for an enrolled child from birth until his or her third birthday for plans that provide coverage for dependents.
HNE is in the process of updating affected plans to remove all member copayments, co-insurance, and deductibles1 on medically necessary early intervention services. This change applies to all of HNE’s fully funded plans. For self funded plans, we will give groups the option of applying this benefit for plan effective dates beginning October 1, 2010.
If you have questions regarding this change, please contact your HNE Provider Relations Representative.
1 For HSA-compliant plans, early intervention services still will be subject to the overall plan deductible, but not the copayment or co-insurance.
