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Virginia
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Virginia Autism News:
**NOTE: The Senate Labor & Commerce Committee Hearing on SB 464 has been postposed due to inclement weather conditions. The hearing has been rescheduled for February 15, 2010 at 1:30pm!
UPDATE From Feb. 2 House Hearing
The Virginia House Commerce and Labor Subcommittee voted 5-4 in favor of HB 303 at the February 2nd hearing in Richmond. Unfortunately, because one of the "yes" votes was not physically present, the bill was considered a tie, and thus could not move out of the subcommittee.
Our focus now moves to the Senate, where the Commerce and Labor Committee will hear our bill next Monday. Please take action today, and ask your Senator to support SB 464!
Featured Virginia Headlines:
Families Affected by Autism Call on Senate Committee to Advance Bill Ending Healthcare Discrimination Against Children With Autism (February 9, 2009)
Summary of Virginia Legislation:
House Bill 303 - Sponsored by Delegate John M. O'Bannon III
Senate Bill 464 - Sponsored by Senator Janet D. Howell
- Would require health insurance companies to provide coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for individuals age 9 and younger (the bill does not preclude the extension of coverage for individuals age 10 and up)
- 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
- 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, including neuropsychological evaluations, genetic testing, or other testing to determine whether an individual has one or more autism spectrum disorders
- Habilitative or rehabilitative care - meaning professional counseling, guidance, services, and treatment programs, including applied behavior analysis (ABA) and other behavioral health treatments, that are necessary to develop, maintain, and restore to the maximum possible extent an individuals functioning
- Pharmacy care
- Psychiatric care
- Psychological care
- Therapeutic care - meaning services provided by licensed or certified speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, or social workers
- 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
- Employers with fewer than 50 employees are exempt from this bill
- 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 bill would apply to health insurance coverage offered to state employees beginning July 1, 2015
- If enacted, this bill would take effect on January 1, 2011
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Bill History:
February 2, 2010: House Commerce and Labor Subcommittee voted 5-4 in favor of HB 303, but bill does not move out of Committee just yet.
January 13, 2010: 2010 session opens with introduction of new autism insurance reform bills, HB 303 - by Delegate O'Bannon - and SB 464 - by Senator Howell
March 3, 2009: 2009 session ends without passage of HB 1588/ SB 1260.
Helpful Links:
Media:
Coverage of the Rally in Richmond:
- Read Region's Lawmakers Endorse Autism Insurance - Loudoun Times, January 20, 2009
- Read and watch Autism Rally Draws 200 - Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 16, 2009
- Watch Living with Autism - CBS Channel 6 (WTVR Richmond), January 15, 2009
- Read Virginia Considers Autism Bill - WAVY ABC Channel 10, January 15, 2009
- Read County Families Support Autism Bill - The Franklin News-Post, January 14, 2009
Other Past Media:
- Read Why Virginia Should Help Children With Autism - an editorial by VA Delegate Robert Marshall and VA Delegate David Poisson, January 2009
- Read Is It Time For Autism Insurance? - by John and Jennifer Maloney, Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 4, 2009
- Read Fairfax Signals Support For Autism Bill - Fairfax Connection, December 16, 2008
- Watch Virginia One Step Closer to "Autism Insurance" - WRICTV8, November 19, 2008
- Watch Autism Bill Pushed in Virginia - WUSA Channel 9
- Read Emotional Hearing for Parents with Autistic Children - The Washington Post, September 30, 2008
Photo Gallery:
Rally in Richmond - January 15, 2009
Above: Parents, advocates join together to rally for HB 1588

Above: Amy Trail (left), Judith Ursitti, Autism Speaks Regional Director of State Advocacy Relations (center), Lavada Robertson (center)
Above: Cindy Davis gets the message out at the rally

Above: Pat DiBari speaks at the rally
Above: (left to right) Stuart Spielman, Autism Speaks Senior Policy Director & Counsel, Pat DiBari, Judith Ursitti, Autism Speaks Regional Director of State Advocacy Relations, and Jodi Folta
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