49-31-50. Telecommunication funds for persons with hearing and other disabilities--Continuous appropriation.
There is created in the state treasury the telecommunication fund for the deaf and the telecommunication fund for other disabilities for the deposit and disbursement of money collected pursuant to the provisions of §§ 49-31-49 and 49-31-51. There is hereby continuously appropriated the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, each year from the telecommunication fund for the deaf to the Department of Human Services to provide one or two cochlear implants to any child who suffers from severe to profound hearing loss. The child shall be less than twenty-one years of age at the time of the implant.
Source: SL 1989, ch 401, § 3; SL 1990, ch 373, § 1; SL 1997, ch 267, § 4; SL 2005, ch 246, § 1; SL 2007, ch 268, § 1; SL 2010, ch 222, § 1; SL 2014, ch 221, § 4.
49-31-50.1. Use of funds appropriated pursuant to § 49-31-50.
Funds appropriated pursuant to § 49-31-50 may only be used for:
(1) The costs of providing a cochlear implant to a child who is not covered under a plan of health insurance; or
(2) Any portion of the costs of providing a cochlear implant to a child that is not paid by any plan of health insurance covering the child but only for those amounts payable by the covered person under the plan's deductible and coinsurance provisions.
Source: SL 2005, ch 246, § 2.
49-31-50.2. Rules relating to cochlear implants.
The Department of Human Services shall promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 to establish standards for eligibility criteria, the basis for and extent of provider payments on behalf of the eligible person, levels of payment, administration, audit requirements, and record keeping of providing cochlear implants.
Source: SL 2005, ch 246, § 3.
49-31-50.3. Approval of vouchers--Warrants.
The secretary of the Department of Human Services shall approve vouchers and the state auditor shall draw warrants to pay expenditures authorized by §§ 49-31-50 to 49-31-50.3, inclusive.
Source: SL 2005, ch 246, § 4.