§ 3360 — Screening of infants and toddlers for developmental delays

(a)Definitions. —As used in this section:

(1) “Carrier” means any entity that provides health insurance in this State. For the purposes of this section, “carrier” includes an insurance company, health service corporation, health maintenance organization, and any other entity providing a plan of health insurance or health benefits subject to state insurance regulation. “Carrier” also includes any third-party administrator or other entity that adjusts, administers, or settles claims in connection with health benefit plans.

(2) “Developmental screening” shall mean any developmental screening tool favorably mentioned by the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Children with Disabilities in its position paper on “Developmental Surveillance and Screening of Infants and Young Children,” or any program judged by the Department of Health and Social Services to be an equivalent program.

(b) This section shall apply to any health insurance contract that provides coverage for a family member of the insured and is delivered by a carrier or issued by a carrier for delivery in the State.

(c) This section shall not apply to policies that exclusively cover:

(1) Hospital confinement indemnity;

(2) Disability income;

(3) Accident only;

(4) Long-term care;

(5) Medicare supplement;

(6) Specified disease indemnity; or

(7) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident, or both.

(d) Every health insurance policy covered by this section shall entitle children covered by the policy to receive developmental screenings at ages 9 months, 18 months, and 30 months.

Legislative History

77 Del. Laws, c. 207, § 1 ; 80 Del. Laws, c. 310, § 1