Autism Speaks Endorses Maine Autism Insurance Reform Bill
LD 1198 Would End Health Care Discrimination Against Children with Autism by Requiring Coverage of Diagnosis and Treatment
Augusta, ME (March 28, 2009) – Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization, today announced its support for LD 1198 (SP 446), the autism insurance reform bill. The legislation would require private health insurance companies to cover the screening, diagnosis, testing and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for individuals up to the age of 21. The maximum benefit would be $36,000 per year.
Sponsored in the Maine State Senate by State Senator Peter Bowman (D-1), LD 1198 includes coverage of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), an evidence-based, medically-necessary autism therapy.
“We applaud and thank Senator Bowman for his leadership on this issue of critical concern to thousands of Maine families,” said Elizabeth Emken, Autism Speaks Vice President of Government Relations. “Autism Speaks joins Maine’s autism community in calling on the legislature to pass LD 1198 and join the growing number of states that have ended healthcare discrimination against children with autism.”
Most states do not require private insurance companies to cover even essential autism treatments and services. In the absence of coverage, families often pay as much as they can out-of-pocket for services that can cost upwards of $50,000 per year. In the process, many risk their homes and the educations of their unaffected children – essentially mortgaging their entire futures.
Eight states – Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas -- have enacted autism insurance reform legislation. Several other state legislatures will vote on similar legislation during the current session.
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