(1) When medical or diagnostic services by an audiologist or speech pathologist are provided pursuant to an order by a physician in accordance with this article and articles 5 and 6 of this title, the executive director of the state department shall authorize reimbursement for said services. For the purposes of this section, "audiologist" or "speech pathologist" means an individual who meets the requirements set forth in the federal "Social Security Act", as amended, or any federal regulations adopted pursuant thereto, for participating providers of audiology or speech pathology services.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as expanding the provision of servicesavailable as a part of the medical assistance program established pursuant to this article and articles 5 and 6 of this title. For the purposes of making payments to audiologists or speech pathologists pursuant to this section, the state board shall establish rules implementing this section. The rules promulgated pursuant to this subsection (2) shall ensure that the costs to the medical assistance program will result in no increase in the total cost of the program solely as a result of the reimbursement for services of an audiologist or speech pathologist pursuant to this section.
Payments for services included in this section shall be made directly to the audiologist or speech pathologist, if requested by the audiologist or speech pathologist; except that this section shall not apply to audiologists or speech pathologists when acting within the scope of their employment as salaried employees of public or private institutions or physicians.
Source: L. 2006: Entire article added with relocations, p. 1847, § 7, effective July 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 26-4-414 as it existed prior to 2006.