IC 16-35-8
    Chapter 8. Hearing Aid Assistance

IC 16-35-8-1
"Child"
    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "child" means a child enrolled ina public school, accredited nonpublic school, or nonaccreditednonpublic school in kindergarten through grade 12.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-2
"Fund"
    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the hearing aidfund established by section 3 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-3
Hearing aid fund; established
    Sec. 3. The hearing aid fund is established for the purpose ofproviding hearing aid assistance to eligible children through thehearing aid assistance program established by section 9 of thischapter.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-4
Fund administration
    Sec. 4. The fund shall be administered by the state department.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-5
Fund contents
    Sec. 5. The fund consists of appropriations from the generalassembly, gifts, bequests, and other sources of funding.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-6
Fund expenses
    Sec. 6. The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid frommoney in the fund.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-7
Fund investments
    Sec. 7. The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fundnot currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the samemanner as other public money may be invested. Interest that accruesfrom these investments shall be deposited in the fund.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-8 Nonreversion; appropriation
    Sec. 8. (a) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year doesnot revert to the state general fund.
    (b) There is annually appropriated to the state department fromthe fund an amount sufficient for the purposes of this chapter.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-9
Hearing aid assistance program; established; criteria; centralinformation location
    Sec. 9. (a) The hearing aid assistance program is established.
    (b) The following eligibility criteria apply for funding through thehearing aid assistance program:
        (1) The hearing aid must be:
            (A) prescribed for a child by a physician who is licensedunder IC 25-22.5; and
            (B) prescribed, fitted, and dispensed for the child by anaudiologist who is licensed under IC 25-35.6.
        (2) The child has not received funding from the fund for ahearing aid for the applicable ear during the previous three (3)years.
        (3) Reimbursement is not available through any of the followingor is not sufficient to pay the full amount required for a hearingaid:
            (A) A policy of accident and sickness insurance (IC 27-8-5).
            (B) A health maintenance organization contract (IC 27-13).
            (C) The Medicaid program (IC 12-15).
            (D) The children's health insurance program (IC 12-17.6).
            (E) The federal Medicare program or any other federalassistance program.
    (c) The state department may use appropriate internal and externalresources to administer the hearing aid assistance program in a costeffective manner.
    (d) External foundations and other organizations that providehearing aid assistance may register with the state department toprovide a centralized location from which hearing impairedindividuals can obtain information regarding additional sources ofhearing aid assistance.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-10
Application for funding; payment from fund
    Sec. 10. (a) The parent or guardian of a child may at any timeapply to the state department for funding through the hearing aidassistance program.
    (b) Upon receipt of an application made under subsection (a), ifthe state department determines that the child is eligible undersection 9(b) of this chapter, the state department may pay from thefund any amount not reimbursed through a source described insection 9(b)(3) of this chapter, not to exceed one thousand five

hundred dollars ($1,500) per hearing aid.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-11
School assistance with applications
    Sec. 11. A public or nonpublic school may identify eligiblechildren and assist the parents or guardians of the eligible childrenin submitting applications to the state department under this chapter.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-12
Funding priority
    Sec. 12. The state department shall give funding priority toapplications under this chapter for eligible children who are less thanfourteen (14) years of age.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-13
Hearing aid refurbishing program
    Sec. 13. (a) The state department may, if economically feasible,create a hearing aid refurbishing program through which hearing aidsthat are no longer used by eligible children and other individuals arecollected and refurbished for the use of other individuals.
    (b) The state department may enter into an agreement withanother organization to implement this section.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.

IC 16-35-8-14
Administrative rules
    Sec. 14. The state department may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 toimplement this chapter.
As added by P.L.119-2009, SEC.1.