AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)
Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law Thursday a state Senate bill that requires health insurance coverage to individuals with autism.
The bill passed the House by a 103-6 vote and the Senate by a 46-1 vote.
"We are looking forward to children with autism finally receiving the care they need,” said Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Forsyth), one of two co-primary bill sponsors.
The law requires qualifying health-benefit plans to provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, including adaptive behavioral treatment and other intensive one-to-one therapies.
The law, which goes into effect July 1, applies to all private insurers in the state. Coverage would be capped at $40,000 annually, and children would be eligible through their 18th birthday.
House Bill 646, which also tackles autism insurance coverage, was not acted on during the recent session.
Advocates say the bills differ notably in the coverage they would provide, as well as how they treat the intervention learning strategy known as adaptive behavioral analysis.
However, advocates stress that the overarching sentiment is getting coverage established this session, and then convincing legislators to make tweaks in the future.
“The families and caregivers of those with autism need every tool we can provide to get their loved ones treatment,” McCrory said. “This new law is not a silver bullet, but for many North Carolina families, it is a huge step in the right direction.”
Rep. Ed Hanes (D-Forsyth), a co-sponsor of the House bill, said the Senate version “has some very good points, but is driven by special interests at the expense of a people-first policy.”
The Senate bill has the support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.C. and several advocacy groups.
Lorri Unumb, vice president of state government affairs for Autism Speaks, said during the legislative session that her main concern with the Senate bill is that it strips autism from among mental-health illnesses protected by a state parity protection law.
Unumb said 42 states have passed legislation in recent years that added coverage for autism.
“Seventy-five percent of those have an age cap on treatment,” Unumb said. “We would prefer North Carolina to be one of those states without an age cap.”
SOURCE: http://www.greensboro.com/news/mccr...cle_4369b49b-643d-5f38-be24-a886dd7aa6ac.html
Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law Thursday a state Senate bill that requires health insurance coverage to individuals with autism.
The bill passed the House by a 103-6 vote and the Senate by a 46-1 vote.
"We are looking forward to children with autism finally receiving the care they need,” said Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Forsyth), one of two co-primary bill sponsors.
The law requires qualifying health-benefit plans to provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, including adaptive behavioral treatment and other intensive one-to-one therapies.
The law, which goes into effect July 1, applies to all private insurers in the state. Coverage would be capped at $40,000 annually, and children would be eligible through their 18th birthday.
House Bill 646, which also tackles autism insurance coverage, was not acted on during the recent session.
Advocates say the bills differ notably in the coverage they would provide, as well as how they treat the intervention learning strategy known as adaptive behavioral analysis.
However, advocates stress that the overarching sentiment is getting coverage established this session, and then convincing legislators to make tweaks in the future.
“The families and caregivers of those with autism need every tool we can provide to get their loved ones treatment,” McCrory said. “This new law is not a silver bullet, but for many North Carolina families, it is a huge step in the right direction.”
Rep. Ed Hanes (D-Forsyth), a co-sponsor of the House bill, said the Senate version “has some very good points, but is driven by special interests at the expense of a people-first policy.”
The Senate bill has the support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.C. and several advocacy groups.
Lorri Unumb, vice president of state government affairs for Autism Speaks, said during the legislative session that her main concern with the Senate bill is that it strips autism from among mental-health illnesses protected by a state parity protection law.
Unumb said 42 states have passed legislation in recent years that added coverage for autism.
“Seventy-five percent of those have an age cap on treatment,” Unumb said. “We would prefer North Carolina to be one of those states without an age cap.”
SOURCE: http://www.greensboro.com/news/mccr...cle_4369b49b-643d-5f38-be24-a886dd7aa6ac.html
