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Autism Speaks Joins the New Jersey Autism Community In Applauding State Senate Passage Of Autism Insurance Reform Legislation

New Jersey S.1651 Passed by State Senate in Overwhelming 35 to 0 Vote

TRENTON, NJ (June 18, 2009) – Autism Speaks today joined New Jersey families, Autism New Jersey, and other autism advocacy organizations in applauding the members of the State Senate for passing S. 1651, which requires insurance companies to provide coverage of evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies. The bill passed the New Jersey Senate today in a vote of 35-0 and now heads back to the State Assembly for concurrence.

S. 1651 is sponsored by Senators Joseph Vitale and Loretta Weinberg in the Senate and will require insurance companies to provide coverage of autism therapies, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, for individuals under age twenty-one up to a maximum of $36,000 per year. The Assembly version of the bill, A. 2238, was passed on May 14 and is sponsored by Speaker Joseph Roberts, Assemblywoman Joan Voss and Assemblyman Vincent Prieto. Last month, Autism Speaks Co-Founder, Bob Wright, testified at committee hearings on both the Senate and Assembly bills.

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.

“With the passage of this legislation in both the Assembly and Senate, New Jersey stands on the threshold to joining the ranks of states that have recognized the unfair and unreasonable burden being imposed on families of children with autism,” said Elizabeth Emken, Autism Speaks vice president for government relations. “Autism insurance reform has gained significant national momentum this year. Legislatures across the country have introduced and passed bills that put an end to the discriminatory practices by insurance companies against children with an autism diagnosis.”

Thirteen states – Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas -- have enacted autism insurance reform legislation. Some two dozen other state legislatures introduced similar legislation during the 2009 session.

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Comments:

Anonymous @ 8/7/2009 12:40:28 PM

Has Govenor Corzine signed this bill yet? Does anybody have an update?

Anonymous @ 7/18/2009 6:59:22 PM

Early intervention is key!!!! Please help these families raise their children to be aware and responsible adults. The private cost is astronomical to help these very special kids through school,therapies and life coaching.Aid us in the care of the children that have so much to offer and that may, without your support,be left behind. New Jersey is the "Autism State" I can't imagine we can't make a difference with the funds and treatment to educate the rest of the country to insist that we take charge now!!! Can you imagine an autistic child becoming aware. I hope that for the sake of the autistic child and the Great State of New Jersey this insurance coverage will be passed. It's only fair that these families who are working so hard to help their child or children with this syndrome can have the benefit of receiving coverage. With Hope for the Future, Maggie Kenny

Anonymous @ 7/18/2009 5:10:27 PM

I'm just hearing about this great news today and I was excited for my son. It has been such a burden with the insurance cost and wondering how your bill will be paid. Finally, the doors will open wider for the children with these special needs!!!!

Anonymous @ 6/26/2009 4:12:15 AM

This is certainly a very good start for all families in the state of New Jersey. We must keep moving ahead.

Anonymous @ 6/19/2009 4:29:44 AM

The bill would not affect school-based services; this insurance coverage is for families to use at their discretion and schools would not be using family coverage to pay for those services. (Families, however, can use the coverage to offset their cost-share for state provided early intervention services in NJ). The idea here is to really give families more options, and not to give the schools help to shirk their responsibilities - IDEA still applies; accomodation and services will still need to be provided through schools.

Anonymous @ 6/18/2009 5:20:54 PM

These are more questions than comments. Is there a place to get more information on all this? It would be interesting to know if schools would still provide the ABA & related services that they do in school and after-school( in homes.) In school ABA/Behavioral consultation is necessry for so many children but seems like it is not an insurance issue. Schools would still pay for in shcool related services I assume? Would the coverage be for additional work done outside of what the schools offer? Would schools submit claims to insurance companies to pay for the ABA & other related Special Education services? As it is now, agencies have to go through scrutiny to be afforded the chance to provide such therapy. Would it mean that any individual can apply directly to an insurance company for pay? What are the qualifications needed to be reimbursed by insurance companies. For the schools, such as on Long Island, that provide a good deal of services it is scary to think parnets may end up with

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