(a) Subject to the provisions of this section, funds appropriated to the lead agency for purposes of § 17a-248, sections 17a-248b to 17a-248f, inclusive, this section and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a shall not be used to satisfy a financial commitment for services that would have been paid from another public or private source but for the enactment of said sections, except for federal funds available pursuant to Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1431 et seq., except that whenever considered necessary to prevent the delay in the receipt of appropriate early intervention services by the eligible child or family in a timely fashion, funds provided under said sections may be used to pay the service provider pending reimbursement from the public or private source that has ultimate responsibility for the payment.

(b) Nothing in § 17a-248, sections 17a-248b to 17a-248f, inclusive, this section and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a shall be construed to permit the Department of Social Services or any other state agency to reduce medical assistance pursuant to this chapter or other assistance or services available to eligible children. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, costs incurred for early intervention services that otherwise qualify as medical assistance that are furnished to an eligible child who is also eligible for benefits pursuant to this chapter shall be considered medical assistance for purposes of payments to providers and state reimbursement to the extent that federal financial participation is available for such services.

(c) Providers of early intervention services shall, in the first instance and where applicable, seek payment from all third-party payers prior to claiming payment from the birth-to-three system for services rendered to eligible children, provided, for the purpose of seeking payment from the Medicaid program or from other third-party payers as agreed upon by the provider, the obligation to seek payment shall not apply to a payment from a third-party payer who is not prohibited from applying such payment, and who will apply such payment, to an annual or lifetime limit specified in the third-party payer’s policy or contract.

(d) The commissioner, in consultation with the Office of Policy and Management and the Insurance Commissioner, shall adopt regulations, pursuant to chapter 54, providing public reimbursement for deductibles and copayments imposed under an insurance policy or health benefit plan to the extent that such deductibles and copayments are applicable to early intervention services.

(e) The commissioner shall not charge a fee for early intervention services to the parents or legal guardians of eligible children.

(f) With respect to early intervention services rendered prior to June 16, 2021, the commissioner shall develop and implement procedures to hold a recipient harmless for the impact of pursuit of payment for such services against lifetime insurance limits.

(g) Notwithstanding any provision of title 38a relating to the permissible exclusion of payments for services under governmental programs, no such exclusion shall apply with respect to payments made pursuant to § 17a-248, sections 17a-248b to 17a-248f, inclusive, this section and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a. Except as provided in this subsection, nothing in this section shall increase or enhance coverages provided for within an insurance contract subject to the provisions of § 10-94f, subsection (a) of § 10-94g, sections 17a-248, 17a-248b to 17a-248f, inclusive, this section, and sections 38a-490a and 38a-516a.

(h) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2023, and June 30, 2024, the commissioner shall make a general administrative payment to providers in the amount of two hundred dollars for each child with an individualized family service plan on the first day of the billing month and whose plan accounts for less than nine hours of service during such billing month, provided at least one service is provided by such provider during such billing month.