Ohio Lawmakers Consider Bill To Require Insurers To Cover Autism

Ohio Lawmakers Consider Bill To Require Insurers To Cover Autism in Individual Health Insurance

Lawmakers in the Ohio State House of Representatives are considering a bill that would require insurance companies to cover the medical treatment of autism. The bill has bipartisan support — and Representatives Jon M. Peterson (R) and Ted Celeste (D) are sponsoring the measure. 

The Ohio bill is similar to legislation recently passed by the U.S. Senate which requires insurance companies to cover mental health conditions equal to physical conditions.

Many health plans will cover the diagnosis of autism — a brain developmental disorder — but won’t cover the treatment. The bill would force insurers to cover autism treatments including speech therapy, home health aides, and psychiatric care.

The measure would help many families who can’t afford to pay for autistic care out of pocket. Supporters of the bill also say the measure will give autistic children early access to the treatments they need.

“Autistic children need 30 hours to 40 hours of intervention a week,” said director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Jacquie Wynn. “With short-term, early intervention in their early years, you see the payoff in their lifetime.”

Insurance industry representatives are worried the bill will mean more mandates requiring insurers to cover health conditions, reported the Plain Dealer. But they are still waiting to learn more details of the measure.

What do you think? Should insurers be required to cover treatments for autism?

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