Autism Speaks Endorses Oregon Autism Insurance Reform Bill

From the Autism Votes News Center

Autism Speaks Endorses Oregon Autism Insurance Reform Bill HB 3000

Would End Health Care Discrimination Against Children with Autism by Requiring Coverage of Diagnosis and Treatment

Salem, OR (March 31, 2009) – Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization, today announced its support for House Bill 3000, the autism insurance reform bill. The legislation would require private health insurance companies to cover the screening, diagnosis, testing and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for individuals up to the age of 21. The maximum benefit would be $36,000 per year.

Sponsored in the Oregon State House by State Representative Peter Buckley (D- Ashland -5), HB 3000 includes coverage of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), an evidence-based, medically-necessary autism therapy.

“We applaud and thank Representative Buckley for his leadership on this issue of critical concern to thousands of Oregon families,” said Elizabeth Emken, Autism Speaks Vice President of Government Relations. “Autism Speaks joins Oregon’s autism community in calling on the legislature to pass HB 3000 and join the growing number of states that have ended healthcare discrimination against children with autism.”Most states do not require private insurance companies to cover even essential autism treatments and services. In the absence of coverage, families often pay as much as they can out-of-pocket for services that can cost upwards of $50,000 per year. In the process, many risk their homes and the educations of their unaffected children – essentially mortgaging their entire futures.

Eight states – Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas -- have enacted autism insurance reform legislation. Several other state legislatures will vote on similar legislation during the current session.

(Blog author note: Two more states have passed autism insurance reform during this legislative season - New Mexico and Montana, bringing the national total to ten states with autism insurance reform law.)

To download a print copy of this release from Autism Votes