Tennessee

Tennessee Autism News:

Autism Speaks Endorses Tennessee Autism Insurance Reform Bill

HB 2105 Would End Health Care Discrimination Against Children with Autism by Requiring Coverage of Diagnosis and Treatment

Nashville, TN (April 30, 2009) – Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization, today announced its support for House Bill 2105, the autism insurance reform bill. The legislation would require private health insurance companies to cover the medically necessary behavioral therapy services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The bill stipulates that coverage for behavioral therapy will be subject to a $50,000 maximum benefit per year for an eligible person up to the age of nine and a $25,000 maximum benefit per year for an eligible person between the age of nine and sixteen.

Sponsored in the Tennessee State House by State Representative David Shepard (D-69), HB 2105 includes coverage of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), an evidence-based, medically-necessary autism therapy.

“We applaud and thank Representative Shepard for his leadership on this issue of critical concern to thousands of Tennessee families,” said Elizabeth Emken, Autism Speaks Vice President of Government Relations. “Autism Speaks joins Tennessee’s autism community in calling on the legislature to pass HB 2105 and join the growing number of states that have ended healthcare discrimination against children with autism.”... Read more

Summary of Tennessee Autism Insurance Reform Bill:

House Bill 2105 - Sponsored by Representative David Shepard (D-69)

• 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 16
  
  
• The bill requires that coverage for autism spectrum disorders must include coverage for medically necessary behavior therapy services that are provided or supervised by a licensed or certified provider
  
  
• Coverage for behavioral therapy will be subject to a $50,000 maximum benefit per year for an eligible person up to age 9
  
  
• Coverage for behavioral therapy will be subject to a $25,000 maximum benefit per year for an eligible person between age 9 and age 16
  
  
• The bill applies only to fully-funded health plans governed by state