Today is World Autism Awareness Day. In North Carolina, legislators seem to be taking notice and The ARC of Orange County reports that House Bill 498, "Mandate Autism Health Insurance Coverage", was introduced today, April 2, 2013 in the North Carolina General Assembly by a bipartisan group of legislators. The primary sponsors of the bill are Representatives Chuck McGrady (R-Henderson), Tricia Cotham (D-Mecklenburg), Tom Murry (R-Wake), and Phil Shepard (R-Onslow).
The autism insurance bill would require all state-regulated insurance plans to cover both screening and diagnostic tests and treatment of autism, including pharmacy, therapeutic, behavioral health, psychiatric, and psychological care up to at least $75,000 per year. 32 states already have laws that include mandated coverage for autism treatment and, if H.R. 498 passes, the provisions for coverage will go into affect on October 1, 2013.
The bill is endorsed by both Autism Speaks and the Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC).
Ten other states are currently reforming their state insurance laws to expand autism coverage, with Tennessee, Georgia, Nebraska, Minnesota, Oregon and Hawaii adding coverage and five other states expanding existing autism insurance coverage.
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