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New Mexico
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New Mexico Autism News:
Autism Speaks Applauds New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson for Enacting Autism Insurance Reform Bill
New Mexico Becomes Ninth State in the Nation with Comprehensive Autism Insurance Reform
NEW YORK, NY (April 3, 2009) -- Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, today joined the New Mexico autism community to praise New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson for signing into law Senate Bill 39, which requires insurance companies to provide coverage of evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies. The Governor signed the bill yesterday, in honor of World Autism Awareness day, making New Mexico the ninth state in the country to enact comprehensive autism insurance reform.
The New Mexico law requires insurers to cover up to $36,000 a year for treatments and therapies, including Applied Behavior Analysis therapy for children until age nineteen, or age twenty-two if the individual is enrolled in high school. It also sets a maximum lifetime coverage limit of $200,000. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is recognized as an effective, evidence-based treatment for children with autism. The law specifies that there cannot be any limit put on the number of visits to an autism service provider and that the maximum per year benefit will be adjusted annually for inflation.
"This is a great day for the thousands of New Mexico families who now know their children will finally get the treatments they need and deserve," said Elizabeth Emken, vice president of government relations. Legislatures across the country are introducing and passing bills that put an end to the discriminatory practices by insurance companies against children with an autism diagnosis. We thank New Mexico's legislators and Governor Richardson for having the courage to put families and their needs first"... Read more
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Summary of Autism Insurance Reform Law Passed in New Mexico:
Senate Bill 39 as signed into law on April 2, 2009 - Sponsored by State Senator Clinton D. Harden(R-7)
- Requires private health insurance companies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder
- Coverage will be provided to individuals under the age of 19, or age 22 if the individual is enrolled in high school
- Coverage under this bill is subject to an inflation adjusted maximum benefit of $36,000 annually with a lifetime maximum of $200,000
- Coverage of treatments will be provided when prescribed by the individual's treating physician in accordance with a treatment plan
- A treatment plan includes all elements necessary for the health insurance to pay claims appropriately, including:
- the diagnosis,
- the proposed treatment by types,
- the frequency and duration of treatment,
- the anticipated outcomes states as goals,
- the frequency with which the treatment plan will be updated,
the signature of the treating physician
- The bill includes coverage of the following treatments: Diagnosis, Habilitative or rehabilitative care (includes speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy), Pharmacy care, Psychiatric care, Psychological care, Therapeutic care, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- The bill applies only to fully-funded health plans governed by state
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Bill History:
April 2, 2009: Governor Bill Richardson has signed SB 39 into law, making NM the ninth state in the country with comprehensive autism insurance reform! Congratulations NM and thank you to state legislators and Governor Richardson.
March 20, 2009: SB 39 passes on the House floor in a vote of 51-15. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature into law! Congrats NM for becoming the 9th state in the country to pass autism insurance reform!!
March 17, 2009: State House Appropriations & Finance Committee passes SB 39 in a vote of 8-3. The bill now heads to the House floor.
March 16, 2009: State House Business & Industry Committee holds hearing on SB 39. Bill is passed in a vote of 10-1 and referred to the Appropriations & Finance Committee for review.
March 3, 2009: State House Health & Government Affairs Committee holds hearing on SB 39. Bill is passed by Committee in vote of 6-0
February 9, 2009: SB 39 passed by the New Mexico State Senate in a vote of 36-0. Bill amended on the senate floor. Bill is referred to House for review.
February 5, 2009: State Senate Corporations & Transportation Committee holds hearing on SB 39. The bill is passed in a vote of 10 to 0.
Janurary 30, 2009: State Senate Public Affairs Committee holds hearing on SB 39. The bill is passed in a vote of 5 to 0. The bill is amended in Committee.
January 22, 2009: Autism insurance reform bill, House Bill 155, introduced in the New Mexico State House by Representative Joni Marie Gutierrez.
Janurary 13, 2009: Autism insurance reform bill, Senate Bill 39, introduced in the New Mexico State Senate by State Senator Clinton D. Harden.
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