National Media
Autism Insurance Latest News
AOL Offers Autism Coverage For Employees
By Erika Jacobson
(Created: Thursday, April 2, 2009 11:47 AM EDT)
To mark the beginning of Autism Awareness Month, AOL Wednesday held a summit at its Ashburn campus to make public its supplemental coverage for pre-approved Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy for children up to the age of nine who have been diagnosed with autism.
In the works since last summer, the coverage took effect for all AOL employees enrolled in the company’s medical plan Jan. 1 of this year.
“We’re choosing to do it proactively instead of waiting for the state to say you have to provide it,” Jackie Gillespie, from AOL’s human resources department, said. “We wanted to get the word out there that we had the benefits, and walking out of there today, we have kind of started our own grassroots efforts.” read more…
Study shows families’ financial strain from autism
(November 30, 2008)
CHICAGO – More than half a million U.S. children have autism with costly health care needs that often put an unprecedented financial strain on their families, national data show.
Compared with parents whose youngsters have chronic health care needs but not autism, those with autistic children are three times more likely to have to quit their jobs or reduce work hours to care for their kids. They pay more for their kids’ health needs, spend more time providing or arranging for that care, and are more likely to have money difficulties, the study found.
Illinois House and Senate Pass SB 934… Now On to the Governor!
(November 20, 2008) Today the Illinois Senate followed in the steps of the Illinois House and passed Senate Bill 934. This bill contains an amendment that requires private health insurance companies to provide coverage of autism treatments and therapies. Now the bill will go to Governor Rod Blagojevich for signature into law.
The Virginia MBC Has Voted!
(November 19, 2008 – Richmond, VA) Today at 1pm the Virginia Mandated Benefits Commission voted 6-4 to recommend House Bill 1588, the autism insurance reform bill to the Commerce and Labor Committee! Stay tuned to Autism Votes for more updated information!
Read the Autism Speaks Press Release
The Washington Times Features Commentary on Autism Insurance Reform By Autism Speaks’ Senior Policy Advisor & Counsel, Stuart Spielman, and Brookings Institution Senior Fellow, Michael O’Hanlon
O’HANLON and SPIELMAN: Autism agenda beckons
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
In their last debate, Barack Obama and John McCain both graciously expressed concern about children with autism.
Mr. Obama in particular then spoke about the need for more research funding to understand the causes of this prevalent handicap. We concur. But that is hardly the extent of what the candidates need to understand about the state of autism in the United States today. Preventing future cases is crucial, but so is addressing the huge unmet needs of the more than 1 million Americans already afflicted.
CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports on the Virginia Autism Insurance Bill
(October 22, 2008) This morning, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta reported on the Virginia autism insurance reform bill. The report focused the Nunez family and their son Ethan who has autism. The family is dealing with paying the high costs for Ethan’s therapies, such as ABA therapy, out-of-pocket and is looking to the newly introduced autism insurance bill in the Virginia legislature for help.
The story covered the Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits hearing that was held a few weeks ago in Richmond which looked at this bill. Mrs. Nunez testified at this hearing about her son’s autism and the financial hardships that have been placed on the family.
The Associated Press Covers Autism Insurance Initiative
(October 20, 2008) In an article entitled Parents Press for Autism Insurance Laws, the Associated press provides a good look at the push for autism insurance reform in the states. The article focuses on the family of Arzu Forough from Washington State and their fight to get insurance coverage for therapies for their 12-year-old son with autism. Arzu is Autism Speaks’ Chapter Advocacy Chair for Washington State.
The article also quotes Elizabeth Emken, Autism Speaks’ Vice President of Government Relations. Emken says in the article that this issue is “‘the No.1 thing we hear from parents’”. She goes on to say “‘What’s more difficutl than knowing there’s an effective treatment for your child, but you can’t afford to offer it to them because it’s not coverage by insurance?’”
Florida Governor Charlie Crist Appoints Elizabeth Emken, Autism Speaks Vice President of Government Relations, to the Developmental Disabilities Compact Workgroup
(Tallahassee, FL – August 15, 2008) Today, Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced the appointment of Elizabeth Emken, Autism Speaks Vice President of Government Relations, to the Developmental Disabilities Compact Workgroup. This workgroup was established by Senate Bill 2654, signed into law in May. Read More…
Watch Should Insurance Cover Autism?
(June 12, 2008) This morning, the TODAY Show on NBC broadcast a report focused on the issue of autism insurance coverage legislation. The segment features Autism Speaks Vice President of Government Relations, Elizabeth Emken, and provides useful information about our current multistate insurance initiative.
(Harrisburg, PA – July 8, 2008) Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell signed into law the most comprehensive autism insurance bill in the nation yesterday. The new law provides $36,000 a year for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and other necessary treatments, and goes beyond many state insurance reform measures by mandating coverage up to age 21 with no lifetime cap. It also creates, for the first time under Pennsylvania law, an expedited appeals procedure for denied claims as a safeguard to ensure compliance by insurance providers. Private insurers will be required to provide coverage beginning in July 2009. Autism insurance reform legislation has now been enacted in eight states across the country, with many others currently considering legislative action. Read more about the Pennsylvania law here.
(Baton Rouge, LA – June 11, 2008) In a key victory for children with autism, on June 11, the Louisiana Senate unanimously passed a measure that would require insurance companies to cover evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies. House Bill 958, the autism insurance reform bill, would cover Applied Behavior Analysis and other treatment costs of up to $36,000 per year with a lifetime cap of $144,000 for children under 17 with autism.
The bill now goes to Governor Bobby Jindal for his signature.
Unanimous Approval of HB 958 in Both Louisiana Senate Committees
(Baton Rouge, LA – June 5, 2008) House Bill 958, the autism insurance reform bill has passed unanimously in both the Louisiana Senate Insurance Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The Appropriations Committee held their hearing just this afternoon. The bill will now go to the Senate floor for approval.
Summary of LA Legislation
HB 958 – Sponsored by Representative Franklin Foil (R-70)
- Requires health insurance coverage from a group health insurance plan, a self-insurance plan, or the Office of Group Benefits programs to provide coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders
- Coverage applies to individuals under 17 years old
- Coverage is not subject to limits on the number of visits an individual may make to an autism services provider
- Coverage is subject to a maximum benefit of $36,000 per year (adjusted for inflation on an annual basis) with a lifetime limit of $144,000
- Coverage is required for treatment of autism spectrum disorders, including:
- Habilitative or rehabilitative care
- Pharmacy care
- Psychiatric care
- Psychological care
- Therapeutic care
- Law does not apply to an employer with 50 or fewer employees
(June 6, 2008) Autism Insurance Bill is Moving Forward in New Jersey New Jersey has become the latest state to address autism insurance reform legislation in its statehouse. Assembly Bill 2238 and Senate Bill 1651 will include coverage for therapies such as physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and evidence-based behavioral interventions, including applied behavioral a nalysis and other evidence-based, medically-necessary treatments. Autism Speaks and New Jersey COSAC are working together to move these bills forward. To receive updates on the New Jersey legislation, read the bills and find out what you can do to help pass A2238 and S1651, visit www.autismvotes.org/newjersey. To stay informed about autism insurance reform legislation in your home state, sign up for action alerts here.
Summary of NJ Legislation
- Requires health insurers to provide health benefits coverage for expenses incurred for certain treatments when prescribed as medically necessary by the covered person’s physician upon a diagnosis of autism
- This bill applies to health, hospital and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizationsl health benefits plans issued pursu ant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, and the State Health Benefits Program
- Covered treatments include physical therapy, speech therapy, occupations therapy, and evidence-based behavioral interventions
(Springfield, IL – May 29, 2008) Congratulations Illinois!! With the help of so many in the Illinois Autism community, Senate Bill 1900 passed the IL House today with a vote of 113 – 0!
For procedural reasons, the bill will need to go back to the Senate for approval before making its way to the Governor’s desk for his signature. Stay tuned for updates on when SB 1900 will hit the Governor’s desk.
(Lansing, MI – April 3, 2008) Michigan recently became one of a growing number of states across the country to introduce autism insurance reform bills this session. Representatives Kathy Angerer (D-55) and Richard Ball (R-85) have introduced House Bills 5527 $amp; 5529, and Senator Tupac Hunter (D-5) has introduced Senate Bills 784 $amp; 785, which seek to end insurance discrimination for children with autism spectrum disorders and provide them with evidence based, medically necessary treatments that they need to live more productive lives. The bill provides for coverage for therapies such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychological therapy and services and applied behavioral analysis therapy as prescribed by a treating physician or psychologist.
Read More…
(NEW YORK, NY- March 21, 2008) Autism Speaks today joined Arizona families and other autism advocacy organizations in applauding Governor Janet Napolitano and the state’s legislators for enacting House Bill 2847, which will require insurance carriers to provide coverage of evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies. In many states, insurers explicitly exclude coverage of these therapies from policies, which places a significant financial burden on families seeking to provide their children with necessary services. Autism Speaks has launched a multi-state initiative to address this discrimination.
Read More…
(Washington, DC – March 14, 2008) Senator Chris Dodd and Senator Susan Collins offered an amendment to the FY2009 Budget Resolution to increase funding for autism research, education and early detection by $197 million. This increase authorizes doubling of autism research funding. Additionally, Senator Arlen Specter and Senator Tom Harkin offered an amendment to increase research funding at the NIH by 2 billion in FY2009. Both amendments passed overwhelmingly. Thank you, Senators, for your efforts on behalf of children, adults, and families affected by autism.
