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An Act To Increase Access to Hearing Aids
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3174-ZZ  is enacted to read:
§ 3174-ZZ. Reimbursement for hearing aids
 
1.  Hearing aid; definition.     For purposes of this section, "hearing aid" means a nonexperimental, wearable instrument or device designed for the ear and offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing, excluding batteries and cords and other assistive listening devices, including, but not limited to, frequency modulation systems.
 
2.  Required reimbursement.     The department shall provide reimbursement for a hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear for an individual enrolled in the MaineCare program in accordance with the following requirements:
 
A.  The hearing loss must be documented by a physician or an audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 137; and
 
B.  The hearing aid must be provided by an audiologist or a hearing aid dealer licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 137.
 
3.  Rulemaking.     The department shall adopt rules to implement this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined by Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to pay for hearing aids under the MaineCare program.