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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Harry Readshaw |
  
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Readshaw: House teamwork restores hope for autism treatment coverage
HARRISBURG, July 2 – The long effort to require insurance companies to cover autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and treatment took a positive turn on Monday when the state House unanimously voted to strengthen and pass an autism coverage bill the Senate had drastically weakened the previous day.
Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny, a cosponsor of the bill, said almost immediately after the Senate action, negotiations began in an attempt to rescue the bill (H.B. 1150), which has been championed for years by House Speaker Dennis O'Brien, R-Phila.
Autism has no cure and its cause is still undetermined, but early childhood diagnosis and behavioral therapy can help people better cope with its symptoms, the most pronounced of which is difficulty in communicating and relating to others.
The measure was first passed in the House one year ago. The Senate finally acted on the measure Sunday, but added an amendment that would have crippled the original intent. The original goal of the bill was to require insurance companies to cover up to $36,000 per year of autism-related treatment for people under 21. Coverage would include medically necessary diagnostic assessments; evaluations or tests; psychiatric and psychological care; rehabilitative care; therapeutic care to include speech, occupational or physical therapy services; and prescription drugs.
The Senate amendment would have allowed insurance companies, instead of the child's doctor, to determine what is "medically necessary" in terms of autism treatments. Currently, Pennsylvania insurers are not required to cover autism.
"There are thousands of young Pennsylvanians with autism or autism spectrum characteristics and their families are desperate for assistance to contend with the disorder," Readshaw said. "We were on the verge of helping these children, and the Senate almost let that hope slip away."
But O'Brien, Readshaw and other supporters rallied, negotiating an agreement with several senators to ensure a continuum of coverage for autism patients, and convincing the House to suspend its normal procedural rules to allow quick passage of the improved bill in hopes of getting it signed into law before the General Assembly adjourns for the summer.
All 203 House members backed the procedural move and, moments later, unanimously amended the bill to ensure that insurance companies cover essential autism diagnostic and treatment services, including those that prevent children from regressing in their level of functioning. The 203-0 vote was followed by a round of applause from members.
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"For me, it was a moment of special pride in my colleagues and a testimony to the unswerving commitment of Speaker O'Brien to help families who find themselves suddenly confronted by the frustrating and complex symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in a child," Readshaw said. "I would like to see more such teamwork and commitment on both sides of the political aisle to openly and effectively address other crucial issues confronting Pennsylvania."
The bill is back in the Senate, which is expected to give it final approval and send it to the governor for his signature.
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