Page 12
Island. RI General Laws §§ 27-18-64, 27-20-50, and 27-41-68 require private and public insurers based in Rhode Island and providing coverage for dependent children to cover the cost of Early Intervention services. Plans may not include deductibles, co-pays, or co-insurance. Rhode Island residents may have employer-sponsored health benefit plans or “self- insured” plans that are exempt from Rhode Island State law but these plans must follow federal law. These plans and other out-of-state plans may provide “essential benefits”, including “rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices” depending on the plan design, which may cover early intervention services. Any Early Intervention service not covered by health insurance or health benefit plans exempt from Rhode Island State law including deductibles, co-pays or co-insurance is funded through the use of public and Part C funds. B. The Rhode Island Early Intervention system of payments does not include any family fees, co-payments or deductibles. Therefore, there is no family payment system; no sliding or cost participation fees; no basis for determining fees; and no definitions regarding ability and inability to pay. C. The Rhode Island Early Intervention system will ensure that parents are not charged any out-of-pocket costs for any Part C services. Fees will not be charged for the services that a child is otherwise entitled to receive at no cost to the parents including: 1. Implementation of the child find requirements; 2. Evaluation and assessment; 3. Service coordination; 4. Administrative and coordinative activities related to: a. The development, review, and evaluation of IFSPs; b. The implementation of procedural safeguards; c. All Early Intervention services authorized on the IFSP, including any co-payments or deductibles related to these services. D. The Rhode Island Early Intervention system does not charge any fees to parents, copayments or deductibles, therefore: 1. The inability of the parents to pay for services will not result in the delay or denial of services to the child or the child’s family; 2. Families will not be charged any more than the actual cost of an Early Intervention service;