B.__Sign language interpreter services must be provided by a certified interpreter licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 22.

C.__A sign language interpreter must be provided for all covered nonhospital medical and dental care appointments applicable under this Title.

Sec. 4. 24-A MRSA §4252 is enacted to read:

§4252. Coverage for sign language interpreters

1. Sign language interpreter; definition.__For the purposes of this section, "sign language interpreter" means a person fluent in American Sign Language who provides intermediary interpreting between a deaf or hard-of-hearing person and another person.

2. Required coverage. All health maintenance organization individual and group contracts and certificates must provide coverage for the provision of a sign language interpreter for a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing in accordance with the following requirements.

A.__The hearing loss must be documented by a physician or audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 77.

B.__Sign language interpreter services must be provided by a certified interpreter licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 22.

C.__A sign language interpreter must be provided for all covered nonhospital medical and dental care appointments applicable under this Title.

Sec. 5. Applicability. This Act applies to all policies and contracts executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed on or after January 1, 2006. All policies and contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

SUMMARY

This bill requires health insurance policies and contracts to provide coverage for the provision of sign language interpreter services at all applicable nonhospital medical and