Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-G, sub-§14-C is enacted to read:

14-C. Newborn Expenses 22 MRSA

Human Hearing Only §8823

Services Screening

Advisory

Board

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §3174-U is enacted to read:

§3174-U.__Payment for newborn hearing screening

The department shall provide for the delivery of federally approved Medicaid services to children who are enrolled in the program who receive services under chapter 1687.

Sec. 3. 22 MRSA c. 1687 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 1687

NEWBORN HEARING

§8821.__Newborn Hearing Program

There is established within the department the Newborn Hearing Program, referred to in this chapter as the "program," to provide__ hearing screening tests to newborn children to enable the children and their families and caregivers to obtain evaluation, treatment and intervention services at the earliest opportunity in order to prevent or mitigate developmental delays and academic failures associated with undetected hearing loss.

1.__Definitions.__As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Birth admission" means the time after birth that the newborn remains in the hospital nursery prior to discharge.

B.__"Board" means the Newborn Hearing Advisory Board.

C.__"Health policy" means any group or individual__health insurance policy, contract, plan or any individual policy, contract or plan with dependent coverage for children, that provides health care coverage on an expense-incurred service or prepaid basis, including health maintenance organization plans.