Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Act Signed into Law by Gov. Deal

ATLANTA, May 30 -- The Georgia House of Representatives issued the following news release:

State Representative Penny Houston (R-Nashville) today announced that Senate Bill 206, the Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Act, was signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal on Monday, May 8, 2017. SB 206 was co-sponsored by Rep. Houston and will require health insurance plans to provide hearing aid coverage for children in Georgia.

"The Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Act will allow Georgia's youngest citizens suffering from hearing loss to lead unaffected lives," said Rep. Houston. "Early detection and treatment for children with hearing loss is critical because oftentimes hearing loss leads to language development deficiencies. Now that this legislation has been signed into law, deserving children will have access to the medical devices they need, regardless of financial constraints. I'm grateful to those who have worked to craft and perfect this legislation for many years, as well as my General Assembly colleagues and Gov. Deal for their support of this bill."

SB 206 will require Georgia health insurance plans to cover the cost of hearing aids for children 18-years-old and under who have been diagnosed with hearing loss beginning on or after January 1, 2018. Coverage will be limited to $3,000 per hearing aid, and insurance providers will be required to repair or replace one hearing aid per hearing impaired ear every 48 months for covered individuals. Insurance plans will also cover all medically necessary services and supplies, including the initial hearing aid evaluation and all follow up appointments.

For more information on SB 206, please click here: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20172018/SB/206

Representative Penny Houston represents the citizens of District 170, which includes all of Berrien and Cook counties and portions of Tift County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1997, and is currently the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development. She also serves on the Banks & Banking, Budget & Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Economic Development & Tourism, and Ways & Means committees.