Louisiana

Summary of LA Law

Act 648 (HB958 as signed into law)

Requires health insurance coverage from a group health 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

Louisiana News

AUTISM SPEAKS APPLAUDS LOUISIANA GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL FOR SIGNING AUTISM INSURANCE REFORM LEGISLATION INTO LAW

BATON ROUGE, LA (July 16, 2008) -- Autism Speaks today commended Governor Bobby Jindal for signing into law HB 958, which makes Louisiana one of eight states, to date, that have ended insurance discrimination against children with autism. The law requires insurers to cover up to $36,000 a year for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and other necessary treatments until age 17. Governor Jindal formally signed the bill at a ceremony at the Greater Baton Rouge Families Helping Families office. An employee, Toni Peters, was instrumental in bringing the idea for the legislation to the attention of Representative Franklin J. Foil of Baton Rouge, the bill’s sponsor.

HB 958 requires group health insurance plans and Office of Group Benefits programs to provide coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. The coverage is for a maximum benefit of $36,000 per year (adjusted for inflation on an annual basis) with a lifetime limit of $144,000. There is no limit on the number of visits an individual may make to an autism services provider.

In addition to Rep. Foil, Autism Speaks thanked bill co-authors Rep. Patrick Williams of Shreveport and Sen. Don Cravins of Opelousas for their leadership in helping to secure unanimous support in the House and Senate.

"Thanks to this legislation, children with autism in our state will get the services they need and deserve, while the long-term cost of their care to society is dramatically reduced,” said Shelley Hendrix, Autism Speaks National Director of State Advocacy and a Louisiana parent of a son with autism. “This is a major victory for children with autism and families who are sometimes forced to sacrifice everything they have in order to pay for critical autism therapies.”

"I am thrilled that Louisiana is taking the lead on helping children with autism,” said Rep. Foil. “This legislation will give families more access to expensive, but important, medical treatment."

Autism insurance reform legislation has now been enacted in eight states across the country, with many others currently considering legislative action. Last week, Pennsylvania became the latest state to address the tremendous financial burden faced by families affected by autism when Governor Ed Rendell signed HB 1150 into law.

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Louisiana Legislature Passes Autism Insurance Bill

(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.

Autism Insurance Reform Bill Passed By the Louisiana House!

(Baton Rouge, LA - May 29, 2008) In a final push for passage yesterday, the Louisiana autism community, decked in red shirts and carrying signs and pictures, packed the capitol this afternoon to watch as the Louisiana House passed House Bill 958, the autism insurance reform bill. The bill passed without opposition, receiving 99 yeas and 83 coauthors.

The bill will now move to Senate Committee.

(Pictured Above: LA Rep. Franklin Foil celebrates the passage of HB 958 through the LA House)

Louisiana Autism Insurance Reform Bill (HB 958) Passed Out of Appropriations Committee

(Baton Rough, LA - May 19, 2008) Rep. Franklin Foil's House Bill 958, which would require insurers to cover treatment for Louisiana children under 17 with autism spectrum disorder, was given a unanimous thumbs up by the House appropriations committee and is headed to the House floor for a vote.

HB 958 Passes UNANIMOUSLY in the Louisiana House Insurance Committee Hearing!

(May 1, 2008 - Baton Rouge, LA) Yesterday, the LA House Insurance Committee held a hearing on House Bill 958, the autism insurance reform bill. This bill will require private health insurance companies to provide coverage of autism services.

The Committee PASSED the bill UNANIMOUSLY after hearing testimony from parents and advocates in front of a standing room only crowd.

Shelley Hendrix, Louisiana resident, parent of a child with autism, and Director of State Advocacy Relations for Autism Speaks, as well as Stuart Spielman, Senior Policy Director and Counsel for Autism Speaks, both testified on behalf of the bill.

Autism Speaks thanks the members of the House Insurance Committee, the Sponsor of the bill - Representative Franklin Foil, and all parent advocates from Louisiana for their role in getting this bill passed out of committee yesterday.

The bill is now set to go to the floor of the LA House for a vote. Stay tuned for more Take Action opportunities and information!

Autism Insurance Bill Introduced in Louisiana

(Baton Rouge, LA - March 28, 2008) Legislation has been introduced in Louisiana to require insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders. The bill has been introduced by State Representative Franklin Foil (R-70) of Baton Rouge. The bill would require Louisiana healthcare policies to cover applied behavior analysis (ABA) and other medically necessary, evidence-based treatments prescribed by an insured's treating physician with annual coverage for up to $50,000 a year. The Louisiana Session will kick off on Monday, March 31 and residents of that state will have a tight turnaround of fewer than 90 days to push this bill through both chambers to Governor Bobby Jindal's desk for signature.