Will families be charged for hearing screening

and diagnostic audiologic testing?

 Many health insurance plans pay for hearing screening and diagnostic audiologic evaluation. New Jersey law (P.L. 2001 c.373) requires that many insurance companies reimburse hospitals for the cost of hearing screening and follow-up. Some insurers (e.g., ERISA* plans) are exempt from state law, so it is important that parents contact their insurance company to verify their policy for payment of hearing related services under New Jersey law, If families do not have insurance, their children may qualify for New Jersey Family Care www.njfamilycare.org or a hospital-based "Charity Care" program (at hospitals which offer audiology services), The New Jersey EHDI program has also funded three Child Evaluation Centers in New Jersey to provide follow-up hearing screening and audiologic evaluation for uninsured children who are not eligible for the programs noted above. NO child should be denied the opportunity for hearing screening, re-screening or ongoing audiologic monitoring services because of payment concerns. If families are concerned about the cost of these services please contact the New Jersey EHDI program at 800-292-5676 (voice) or 609-984-1343 (voice and tty) for a list of centers in their area that can provide assistance.

*ERISA is an abbreviation for a federal law that governs all employee benefit programs, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. General health insurance coverage is covered by ERISA when purchased through work and/or when it is part of job benefits provided by employers. Major exceptions to this are:

1) the employer is a government agency of some kind (like a county or city)

2) the insured person is the owner of the company or is self-employed

3) the employer is a religious organization

Referrals can be made to these 3 specially funded centers for children without insurance coverage and who do not qualify for NJ FamilyCare:

UMDNJ – University Hospital

Audiology Services

150 Bergen Street, Room C-431, Unit #2

Newark, New Jersey 07103

973-972-4967

Contact: Connie Vandervliet, M.A., CCC-A

Jersey Shore Medical Center

Medical Arts Building

1944 Route 33

Neptune, New Jersey 07753

732-776-4960

Contact: Enid Rappaport, M.A., CCC-A or Joni DelSordo, M.S., CCC-A

Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center

3 Cooper Plaza

Suite 511

Camden. New Jersey 08103

1-877-599.4327

 (this number will connect you to HearNow/Associated Audiologic Consultants

 who will assist in scheduling audiologic services at Cooper Hospital)

Contact persons for this site: Angel Swatko or Dr_ Rebecca Germano