Iowa

Iowa Autism News:

Video: Families Fight for Health Care for Autistic Children - WHOTV (NBC), March 26, 2009

Featured Iowa Headlines:

Autism Speaks Endorses Iowa Autism Insurance Reform Bill (February 19, 2009)

Summary of the Autism Insurance Reform Bill:

Senate File 1 - Sponsored by Senator Daryl Beall (D-25)

House File 1 - Sponsored by Representative Ray S. Zirkelbach (D-31)

• 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 21
  
  
• Coverage under this bill is subject to an inflation adjusted maximum benefit of $36,000 annually
  
  
• Coverage of treatments will be provided  when prescribed, provided, or ordered for an individual diagnosed with autism by a licensed physician, a licensed psychologist, a licensed social worker, or a licensed registered nurse practitioner 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)
  
  
• Small businesses (employers with 50 or fewer employees) may "opt out" of providing this coverage
  
  
• The bill calls for the commissioner, in consultation with the board of medicine, to adopt rules providing for the certification of behavior specialists
  
  
• The bill applies only to fully-funded group health plans governed by state law
  
  
• If passed, these bills will go into effect on January 1, 2010