New York

New York Autism News:

New York Times Features Report on Passage of NY Autism Insurance Reform Bill

(June 23, 2010) -- Yesterday, the New York Times reported on the passage of the New York Autism Insurance reform bill, S.7000B/A.10372A.  Autism Speaks Vice President of Programs and Services Peter Bell was interviewed.  Read Bill Passed in Albany to Make Insurers Pay for Autism Care.

State Assembly Joins Senate In Unanimously Passing Landmark Bill Prohibiting Insurance Discrimination Against New York Individuals With Autism

Autism Speaks Calls on Governor Paterson to Sign Landmark Bill Into Law

NEW YORK, NY (June 21, 2010) - Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, today applauded the unanimous passage of landmark legislation that will require New York-based insurance policies to provide coverage of evidence-based, medically-necessary treatment for individuals with autism, and called on Governor David Paterson to immediately sign the bill into law. The legislation received overwhelming bi-partisan support, with a 61-0 vote in the Senate and 132-0 vote in the Assembly. Twenty-one states have already enacted autism insurance reform measures.

The Assembly bill (A.10372) passed today -- introduced by Assemblyman Joe Morelle and co-sponsored by Speaker Sheldon Silver -- requires 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 speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral health treatments (including Applied Behavior Analysis) and other treatments for individuals of any age who are affected by autism.

"This legislation is an important reminder of what our elected officials can and will do to help New York's families," said Bob Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks. "Families here and around the country 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 insurance discrimination in every state in America."

"This legislation has the potential to be one of the most comprehensive autism insurance laws in the country," said Peter Bell, executive vice president of programs and services for Autism Speaks. "Now it is up to Governor Paterson to sign this landmark bill into law and alleviate the hardship endured by tens of thousands of New York families affected by autism."

In many states, insurers explicitly exclude coverage of these therapies from policies, which places a significant financial burden on families seeking to provide their children with necessary services. ABA therapies alone may cost upward of $50,000 a year.

It's Time for New York to Pass Autism Insurance Reform

By Lorri Unumb, senior policy advisor and counsel for Autism Speaks. Lorri also teaches “Autism and the Law” at the George Washington University Law School.

In the past three years, 20 states have passed laws requiring health insurance policies to cover individuals with autism and the treatments prescribed by doctors for autism. The New York legislature is on the verge of passing one of the broadest autism insurance reform bills in the nation, and yet some members of the autism community oppose the bill, largely because of its broadness. I write to offer some historical and legal perspective on a bill that embraces a broad approach to legislating... Read more

Autism Speaks Applauds Passage of New York State Senate Bill That Would End Insurance Discrimination Against Children With Autism (June 9, 2010)

Autism Speaks Endorses New York State Assembly Legislation That Would End Insurance Discrimination Against Individuals With Autism (March 22, 2010)

Autism Speaks Endorses New York State Legislation That Would End Insurance Discrimination Against Children With Autism (March 8, 2010)

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

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

Assembly Bill 10372 - Sponsored by Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle (District 132)

Key Cosponsor: Assembly Speaks Sheldon Silver

• 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
  
  
• 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
  
  
• The part of S.7000B that requires the agency panel to develop regulations goes into effect immediately. Mandatory coverage goes into effect once the regulations are developed (which can be no later than 12 months from enactment of the law) and applies to policies as they renew during the year.