Nebraska Autism News:
Autism Speaks Endorses Nebraska Autism Insurance Reform Bill
LB.1129 Would End Health Care Discrimination Against Children with Autism by Requiring Coverage of Diagnosis and Treatment
NEW YORK (Feb. 2, 2012) -- Autism Speaks, the world’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, today announced its support for LB.1129 which would bar private insurance companies in Nebraska from refusing to cover the diagnosis and treatment of treatment of autism.
Families paying thousands of dollars a year in insurance premiums would gain coverage for the screening, diagnosis, testing and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for individuals up to the age of 21. No limits would be set on benefits with the exception of applied behavior analysis, which would be capped annually at $70,000 up to the age of 9 and $20,000 thereafter up to the age of 21.
Sponsored by Nebraska Senator Colby Coash, LB.1129 includes coverage of behavioral health treatments, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), an evidence-based autism therapy.
“We applaud and thank Senator Coash for his leadership on this issue of critical concern to thousands of Washington State families,” said Lorri Unumb, Autism Speaks vice president for state government affairs. “Autism Speaks joins Nebraska’s autism community in calling on the Senate to pass LB.1129 and join the growing majority 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.
A majority of states (29) representing 70 percent of the United States population-- including Kansas, Iowa, Colorado and Missouri – have enacted autism insurance reform legislation. Similar bills are before legislatures in other states this year.
Senate Committee Holds Autism Insurance Reform Hearing
LINCOLN, NE (Nov. 30, 2011) -- The Senate Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee conducted a hearing to learn how the lack of insurance coverage for autism treatments has affected Nebraska families.
The Senate committee was directed under LR.219 to learn the extent of coverage currently available in Nebraska, the need for greater coverage, the ways in which the current coverage could be broadened, and the cost to the state resulting from limited treatment because of the lack or high cost of treatment. 29 other states including Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Colorado, have all enacted autism insurance reform.
Upon completion of its interim study, the committee is to report its findings and recommendations to the full Legislature.
Summary of 2012 Nebraska Autism Insurance Reform Bills:
LB.1129 - Sponsored by Senator Colby Coash
The bill would:
- require providers of state-regulated insurance plans to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders up to the age of 21
- place no cap on the number of visits or dollar amount of benefits, except for coverage of ABA therapy. ABA would be capped at $70,000 per year up to the age of 9, and $20,000 per year from age 9 to 21
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require health insurance providers cover all tests, assessments, and evaluations that are necessary to diagnose autism spectrum disorder including neuropsychological evaluations, genetic testing, and other tests required for accurate diagnosis
- require coverage, following a determination of medical necessity by a licensed physician or psychologist, to include:
- habilitative or rehabilitative care necessary to develop, improve, maintain, and restore to the maximum possible extent an individual’s functioning, including professional counseling and treatment programs such as applied behavior analysis (ABA), developmental approaches, and other behavioral health treatments
- pharmacy care
- psychiatric care
- psychological care
- therapeutic care, which is defined as services provided by licensed or certified speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, or physical therapists
- augmentative communication devices and other assistive technology devices
- coordination of care services
- other care deemed medically necessary and that meets the standards of evidence required for coverage of other prevailing medical or surgical treatments
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