Child autism treatment bill sent to Kansas governor

Posted: Published on April 2nd, 2014

This post was added by Dr Simmons

The Legislature sent to Gov. Sam Brownback a bill Wednesday mandating for the first time that insurance companies serving Kansans include coverage in health policies for diagnosis and treatment of autistic children.

Despite years of opposition from state-regulated insurance companies, a compromise was crafted among parents, legislators and lobbyists to begin limited coverage for children with the complex brain development disorder. Autism is frequently characterized by communication challenges, difficulties with social interaction and repetitive behaviors.

Sen. Rob Olsen, an Olathe Republican and chairman of the Senate's insurance committee, said hardships experienced by families caring for the state's estimated 8,000 autistic children and the fact too many kids didn't receive therapy early in life conspired to break the logjam.

The insurance mandate, he said, could have long-term economic benefits to the state by making these children more independent as adults.

"We're showing them we care about their families," Olsen said. "I believe we're going to save money as a state by doing this."

The Senate voted 38-2 on House Bill 2744. Representatives in the House, some of whom described the measure as a delicate compromise among vested interests, adopted the identical bill 114-3 in March, meaning the insurance legislation moves to the desk of the Republican governor.

Under the bill, about 250 children with autism would qualify for benefits through large-group plans after January 2015. Approximately 750 children in small-group or individual-market plans established before enactment of the federal Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, would be able to secure the coverage in January 2016.

State-regulated insurers would be forced to cover applied behavior analysis for up to 25 hours each week for a duration of four years following a child's diagnosis. When the four-year clock expired or the child reached 12 years of age, coverage would be capped at 10 hours per week.

Professionals delivering treatment under the autism insurance program who have to be licensed by the state by July 2016.

Critics of the measure denounced it as a regulatory intrusion in the vein of the ACA, which is widely despised by Kansas Republicans.

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Child autism treatment bill sent to Kansas governor

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