Kansas

Kansas Autism News:

Kansas Becomes the 18th State to Enact Autism Insurance Reform

Autism Speaks Pledges to Keep Working to Expand Coverage

NEW YORK, NY (April 20, 2010) -- Autism Speaks joined Kansas families and other autism advocacy organizations in applauding Governor Mark Parkinson yesterday for signing the autism insurance reform bill, House Bill 2160, into law. The new law will require the state health insurance plan to provide coverage of evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies, such as applied behavior analysis, for state employees. While the law starts Kansas on the path towards ending insurance discrimination against all individuals with autism, it falls short of creating real autism insurance reform for all families living with autism. Kansas becomes the 18th state in the country to enact autism insurance reform legislation, but the first to enact it in this limited form.

The law includes an annual cap on treatments for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that are enrolled in the health insurance plan for state employees of $36,000 up to age 7 and $27,000 between ages 7 and 19. 97,500 people are enrolled in the Kansas state employee health plan.

“Autism Speaks applauds Governor Parkinson’s enactment of HB 2160, which will extend a helping hand to the families of state employees,” said Peter Bell, Autism Speaks executive vice president of programs and services. “Our hope is that this pilot project will create a solid foundation from which to expand coverage in the next legislative session to the greater population of families that have been financially devastated by the lack of insurance coverage for necessary autism therapies.”

The original bill (Kate’s Law/Senate Bill 12) was sponsored by the Legislative Educational Planning Committee (LEPC) and was helped through the legislature by Senator Tim Owens, but final passage of the bill is due to the determined work of parents and advocates in the Kansas autism community

“Autism is a serious condition in many children which requires continuous care and guidance,” said Governor Parkinson. “Kansas families should not have to break the bank in order to ensure their autistic child can thrive. This legislation is a great beginning for putting us on a path toward providing coverage for autism in all health insurance plans.”

“Advocates from throughout Kansas worked tirelessly and with this passage their voices are heard,” said Mike Wasmer, Autism Speaks Kansas Chapter Advocacy Chair and President of the Kansas Coalition for Autism Legislation (KCAL). “This is not the end, but rather the start of getting autism treatment to all in need in the state of Kansas.”

Autism Speaks Applauds the Kansas State Legislature for Passage Of Autism Insurance Coverage For State Employee Health Plan But Pledges To Keep Working To Expand Coverage (March 31, 2010)

Autism Speaks Joins Kansas Parents and Autism Advocates In Denouncing Insurance Industry Claims (April 20, 2009)

Autism Speaks Joins Kansas Families to Answer Legislator Questions Raised About Kate’s Law (February 20, 2009)

Kansas LEPC Recommends Passage of Kate's Law (November 21, 2008)

Summary of Kansas Autism Insurance Reform Law:

Senate Substitute House Bill 2160 - Introduced by the LEPC

• Creates a "test track" for autism insurance reform by requiring the state employee health plan to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder
  
  

• The final bill includes a annual cap on treatments for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that are enrolled in the health insurance plan for state employees of $36,000 up to age 7 and $27,000 between ages 7 and 19.
  
  
• Coverage of treatments will be provided when prescribed, provided, or ordered for an individual diagnosed with autism by a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist who determines the care to be medically necessary
  
  
• The bill includes coverage of the following treatments: Diagnosis, Habilitative or rehabilitative care, Pharmacy care, Psychiatric care, Psychological care, Therapeutic care, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
  
  
• The bill applies only to those covered under the state employees health insurance plan
  
  
• Autism Speaks is resolved to come back next year and fight for legislation to expand coverage to all state governed private health insurance plans in Kansas!

Read the FAQ from KCAL