West Virginia

West Virginia Autism News:

Autism Speaks Applauds West Virginia Psychology Board for Acting in Best Interests of State’s Families

NEW YORK (September 29, 2011) – Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, today applauded the West Virginia Board of Examiners of Psychologists for acting in the best interests of the state’s families by withdrawing an emergency rule that would have disrupted care for children with autism.
 
The rule, which took effect in June, would have prevented practitioners of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from providing treatment for children with autism unless they were supervised by licensed psychologists. A new law enacted earlier this year required health insurance companies to begin covering the cost of ABA treatments.
 
But under the emergency rule issued in June, the practice of behavior analysis without a psychology license was deemed an "immediate threat to public health, safety, or welfare." The rule disrupted treatments for many families caring for children with autism by effectively suspending the work of Board Certified Behavior Analysts and Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts.
 
“Autism Speaks intends to continue working closely with state officials and the autism community to enable ABA practitioners to continue providing services needed by West Virginia families, said Lorri Unumb, Autism Speaks vice president for state government affairs.

West Virginia Becomes 25th State To Enact Autism Insurance Reform Legislation

Autism Speaks Joins with the West Virginia Autism Community in Applauding Governor Earl Ray Tomblin for Signing House Bill 2693 into Law Today

NEW YORK, NY (April 1, 2011) – Autism Speaks joined West Virginia families today in applauding Governor Earl Ray Tomblin for signing into law House Bill 2693. This new law requires insurance companies to provide coverage of evidence-based autism therapies, such as applied behavior analysis (ABA).

“I fully recognize the importance of this piece of legislation and the positive impact it will have for children with Autism and the relief it gives their parents,” Governor Tomblin said. “I am so pleased that West Virginia will be the 25th state to require autism related services be a part of insurance coverage available for families.”

Sponsored in the West Virginia House by Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer (District 44 - Monongalia), the new law ends private insurance companies’ discrimination against children with autism by requiring coverage of evidence-based therapies, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. The new law includes a maximum benefit for ABA therapy of $30,000 annually for the first three consecutive years from the date treatment commences and a maximum benefit of $2,000 monthly thereafter until the individual reaches age 18. HB 2693 was supported through the Senate by Senator Evan H. Jenkins (District 5 - Cabell) and will go into effect on July 1 of this year.

“We thank Governor Tomblin for signing HB 2693 into law,” said Peter Bell, Autism Speaks executive vice president of programs and services. “This enactment allows West Virginia to join the growing number of states that have recognized the unfair and unreasonable burden being imposed on individuals diagnosed with autism and their families. The West Virginia enactment is especially significant for our community because now half of the United States has ended discriminatory practices by the health insurance industry against children with autism.”

Half of all 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.

"Children are our most precious resource,” stated Senator Evan Jenkins. “This legislation has been a labor of love for me and many others to help guarantee that every child has the support and opportunity needed for a healthy start in life."

“We are most grateful for our legislative champions Delegate Fleischauer and Senator Jenkins. We also have tremendous respect and admiration for the many legislators and families who helped blaze the trail over the past several years by shining the spotlight on autism. We have had overwhelming support from the West Virginia Legislature and Governor Earl Ray Tomblin,” said Earlene Anglin, Autism Speaks West Virginia State Advocacy Chair. “This is a historic day for West Virginia, and for families living with autism, and I’m so proud of our elected officials for seeing this through.”

Governor Tomblin will host a public signing of the bill to kick off Autism Awareness Month at the Capitol on Friday, April 1, 2011.

(Pictured above: Jill McLaury, Earlene Anglin, Cindy LeGrand)

View the voting record

 Autism Speaks Calls on West Virginia Governor to Enact Autism Insurance Reform Legislation (March 14, 2011)

Autism Speaks Applauds West Virginia House Members For Passing Autism Insurance Reform Legislation (February 11, 2011)

Autism Speaks Endorses West Virginia Autism Insurance Reform Bills (January 28, 2011)

Summary of West Virginia 2011 Autism Insurance Reform Bills:

Senate Bill 218 - Sponsored by Senators Evan H.Jenkins (District 5 - Cabell) and Jeffrey V. Kessler (District 2 - Marshall) (Acting Senate President)

House Bill 2693 - Sponsored by Representative Barbara Evans Fleischauer (District 44 - Monongalia)

Would require most state regulated private group health insurance plans and the West Virginia Public Employees Health Insurance Plan to provide coverage of the treatment of autism spectrum disorders, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and the law will go into effect on July 1, 2011. However, the coverage applies to policies as they issue or renew on or after January 1, 2012.



HB 2693 includes a maximum benefit for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy of $30,000 annually for the first three consecutive years from the date treatment commences and a maximum benefit of $2,000 monthly thereafter until the individual reaches age 18


HB 2693 stipulates that insurers must cover Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy that is provided or supervised by a certified behavior analyst


• The bill applies only to state regulated group health insurance plans and the West Virginia Public Employees Health Plan. It does not apply to self-funded insurance plans as these plans are regulated by the federal government under ERISA law