Legislative help needed for families with autistic children

by Elizabeth Butler

March 04, 2009 12:52 pm

— Autism Speaks is pursuing autism insurance reform in more than 30 states across the nation, including Georgia.
Georgia Senate Bill 161 and House Bill 426 are known as the autism insurance reform bills. This legislation would require private health insurance companies to cover the screening, diagnosis, testing and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sponsored in the Georgia State Senate by Sen. Johnny Grant and in the State House by Rep. Katie Dempsey, the autism insurance reform bill includes coverage of evidence-based, medically-necessary autism therapies.
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.
Autism Speaks urges those interested to call their Georgia state legislators “and tell them that SB 161 and HB 426 will help thousands of families across Georgia handle the financial burdens of having a child with autism. Make sure to share your family’s story and how these bills will help you access the treaments your child, or a child you know, needs. Let your state legislators know that autism is treatable! Insurance should cover the treatment!”
For more information on Autism Speaks, go to its Web site at advocacy@autismspeaks.org.