Maryland

Maryland Autism News:

Autism Speaks Joins The Maryland Autism Community In Calling For The Legislature To Pass The Autism Insurance Reform Bills

Committee Hearings Held Today on Both Senate Bill 759 and House Bill 783

NEW YORK, NY (March 9, 2011) – Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization, joined today with the Maryland autism community at the state capitol to support Senate Bill 759/House Bill 783, the autism insurance reform bill, also known as the “Coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorders” bill. The legislation, which would require private health insurance companies to cover the diagnosis, testing, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), was heard today in committee hearings in both the House and Senate.

Sponsored in the Maryland Senate by Senator Katherine Klausmeier (District 8) and in the House by Delegate Kirill Reznik (District 39), SB 759/HB 783 includes coverage of behavioral health treatments, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), an evidence-based, medically-necessary autism therapy. The Senate bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee, while the House bill was referred to the House Health Government Operations Committee. Both committees held hearings on the bills today.

Autism Speaks Endorses Maryland Autism Insurance Reform Bills (February 14, 2011)

Autism Insurance Coverage Bill Introduced in Maryland House and Senate (January 29, 2009)

Summary of the 2011 Maryland Autism Insurance Reform Bills:

Senate Bill 759 -  Sponsored by Senator Katherine Klausmeier (District 8)

House Bill 783 - Sponsored by Delegate Kirill Reznik (District 39)

• Would require private health insurance companies to provide coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders 
  
  
• Under this bill, health insurance companies would be required to provide coverage of the following:
  • Diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder - meaning medically necessary assessments, evaluations, or tests to diagnose whether an individual has an autism spectrum disorder
  • Habilitative or rehabilitative care - meaning professional counseling, guidance, services, and treatment programs and devices, including behavioral health treatments such as applied behavior analysis (ABA), that are necessary to develop, maintain, and restore to the maximum possible extent an individual's functioning
  • Evidence-based, medically necessary treatment of autism spectrum disorders as prescribed, provided by, ordered by, or provided by a person under the supervision of a licensed physician, a licensed psychologist, a licensed speech-language pathologist, a board certified behavior analyst credentialed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board
    
    
• The bill does not affect any obligation to provide services to an individual under an individualized family service plan, an individualized education program (IEP), or an individualized services plan
  
  
• The bill applies only to state regulated insurance plans. It does not apply to self-funded insurance plans as these plans are regulated by the federal government under ERISA law
  
  
• If enacted, this bill would take effect on January 1, 2012