2007 House Bill 5529: Impose autism treatment insurance mandate

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Introduced by Rep. Richard J. Ball (R) on December 4, 2007, to impose a new coverage mandate that would require health insurance companies to include in all their policies coverage for treatments related to autism, without requiring any dollar limit, deductible or co-pay for these that does not apply to other disorders.
- Referred to the House Health Policy Committee on December 4, 2007.

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1) Why Autism by Anonymous Citizen on April 30, 2008
The reason autism is singled out in this bill is because autism is singled out by insurance companies. While other disabilities may have problems receiving coverage and certain treatments won't be covered, none of them are actually written into the policy as an exclusion - autism IS! It isn't a case of patients with ASD's being denied treatment because it is "experimental" or some other reason, it is because it is written into polices this way "excluding autism"!! I am not aware of any other disability specifically excluded in this manner, only autism. Even services and treatments that are covered under ANY other diagnosis, such as speech and OT, are excluded for autism. THIS is the reason the autism community needs a bill to specifically require that insurance companies end their discriminatory practices.

Yes, another part of the reason IS because of the numbers. We are talking about an epidemic! An entire generation of children who desperately need coverage - and NOW! When polio was an epidemic in the 1930's, the rate of incidence was 1 in 34,000! Autism is 1 in 150!! Actually, that rate is now 4 yrs. old, with increases of 150% + every 5 yrs., the rate is surely higher now. This is unprecedented! It will aslo mean the bankruptcy of our schools, mental health communities, states and more if we don't do something NOW!

There is no more time to waste. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes and all forms of cancer combined!!
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2) Autism and More by WhiteOak on April 24, 2008
This bill is a good step forward. However, I am unclear why Autism is singled out. As a father of a child with a developmental disorder that is not in the autism spectrum AND is not covered by many insurance carriers, I would like to see this bill be a little more comprehensive.

Is it simply that autism gets more press than selective mutism, for example. Or that there is an autism community that is better organized.

Some of these other disorders comprise a very small percentage of the overall population and do not have the numbers that autism spectrum patients do. However, these children and their parents suffer the same indignities and financial burdens. It would be very difficult to have a grassroots community get the momentum necessary to lobby for a bill.

What do you think? Should this bill cover other developmental disorders? Or is there some reason that autism is singled out here?
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3) 2007 House Bill 5529 (Impose autism treatment insurance mandate ) by admin on January 1, 2001
Introduced in the House on December 4, 2007

Click here to view bill details.
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