ATLANTA Gov. Nathan Deal has proposed the state employee health plan cover treatment of autism, a move applauded by advocates who say early intervention can improve behavior and quality of life.
In his budget proposal announced this week, Deal said he would set aside $2.4 million for the coverage. Dozens of other states have passed legislation compelling insurers to provide for the treatments, which can be costly but effective. Research has shown early intervention treatments can prevent or greatly minimize some of the associated disabilities of autism.
Considering autism is a neurological disorder, it should be covered under any health plan, Haynes Kaufman, a teacher at Gainesville Middle School who has a 15-year-old autistic son, told The Times. It should never have been excluded from any health plans.
Kaufman, however, wont benefit from Deals proposal because her child is already covered under a Medicaid waiver.
Its a day late and a dollar short for us, she said, but added that she hopes other public school teachers she knows who also have autistic children will be able to get the coverage they need.
Jill Klink, a contracted speech pathologist for Gainesville City Schools who has a 7-year-old autistic son, said the proposal is an acknowledgment by the state government that autism has become an epidemic. Though she already receives coverage for her son, she said she believes the proposal is definitely a first step to requiring all insurers to provide treatment coverage.
Georgia is one of only 16 states that dont require the coverage, according to state Rep. Ben Harbin, R-Evans, who is the lead sponsor of Avas Law that would compel insurers in the state to pay for the treatments. The bill is named after Anna Bullards daughter, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2 and who was denied coverage under the state employee health plan in 2006.
That was almost more of a devastating blow than the diagnosis, said Bullard, of Lyons. The diagnosis was something I could see, we could get treatment for, we could help her. But with insurance not covering it, I wasnt sure what we would do.
Bullard said she and her husband, who is a schoolteacher, maxed out their credit cards and received financial help from her parents to cover the treatments for Ava, which cost about $5,000 a month. Now 9, Ava is doing well attending school in a regular classroom and making friends.
I keep fighting for that very reason, because Ava doesnt need treatment any more. Every child deserves that chance, said Bullard, who plans to go to the Capitol twice a week to advocate passage of the bill.
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Deal wants state insurance to cover autism treatment