New York

New York Autism News:

Autism Speaks Endorses New York State Legislation That Would End Insurance Discrimination Against Children With Autism

S.7000 Has Potential to Help Thousands With Autism Living In New York and Around the Country

• Download our new FAQ on S.7000!

NEW YORK, NY (March 8, 2010) – Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, today endorsed S.7000, which would require insurance companies to end discriminatory practices and provide coverage of evidence-based, clinically-proven autism therapies for many of New York’s residents living with autism and potentially thousands more. Fifteen states have already enacted autism insurance reform measures, with legislation pending in approximately two dozen additional states.

The bill – co-sponsored by Senators Neil Breslin (Albany County) and Thomas Duane (Manhattan), as well as Senator Charles Fuschillo, Jr. (Nassau County) – would require private health insurance companies to cover the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Such treatment would include interventions prescribed by a doctor that are evidence-based and clinically-proven. In addition to providing coverage for physical health problems that frequently occur with autism such as sleep abnormalities, seizures and gastrointestinal problems, the bill would cover other treatments such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral health treatments (including applied behavior analysis) for individuals of any age that are affected by autism.

“Parents across New York and around the country are paying for health insurance that denies them the services they need the most,” said Bob Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks. “Families are literally going broke trying to give children the therapies they need and deserve to meet their full potential. It’s time that we eliminate this unfair burden and end insurers’ blatant discrimination against children with autism.”

“This bill has the potential to be one of the most comprehensive autism insurance laws in the country,” said Peter Bell, executive vice president of programs & services for Autism Speaks. ”It provides coverage for treatments for individuals with autism throughout their lifespan. Furthermore, since many national and regional companies are headquartered in New York, this legislation has the potential to extend to thousands of individuals across the country thereby having a major impact on the national autism community.”... Read more

Join Autism Speaks in Albany on March 22! 

The Senate Insurance Committee, Chaired by Senator (and S. 7000 prime sponsor) Neil Breslin, will be voting on S.7000 at their meeting at 11:00 am on Monday, March 22, 2010 in Room 123 in the Capitol Building. Please do all you can to be there to represent the families of New York whose lives this vote will impact.  

Featured New York Headlines:

Autism Speaks Joins New York Autism Community In Calling For An End To Autism Insurance Discrimination In The Empire State (October 23, 2009)

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Attends 2009 Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism in Westchester (June 7, 2009)

Autism Speaks Endorses New York Autism Insurance Reform Bills (March 4, 2009)

New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief Report to Governor Recommends Severe Cuts to Special Education (December 11, 2008)

Summary of Autism Insurance Reform Bills in New York:

Senate Bill 7000 - Sponsored by Senator Neil Breslin (District 46) and Senator Thomas Duane (District 29)

Key Cosponsor: Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (8th Senate District)

• Would require private health insurance companies to provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders
  
  
• The bill has no age caps or dollar caps on these benefits
  
  
• Under this bill, the state commissioner of health, the state superintendent of insurance, the state commissioner of the office of mental health, and the state commissioner of the office of mental retardation and developmental disabilities have been tasked with identifying and regularly updating which treatments and therapy options insurance companies will be required to cover
  
  
• The treatments and therapy options covered will be those that are evidence-based and clinically proven
  
  
• The bill provides coverage for physical health problems that frequently occur with autism, such as sleep abnormalities, seizures and gastrointestinal problems. The bill would also cover other treatments such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral health treatments (including applied behavior analysis)
  
  
• 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 purpose of this bill is require insurance coverage of for services provided on a supplemental basis outside of an educational setting for services that are deemed medically necessary
  
  
• 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 the January 1 following passage