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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Barb McIlvaine Smith
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McIlvaine Smith: Bipartisan effort in the House strengthens autism bill
HARRISBURG, July 2 – The state House added changes to and passed a bill (H.B. 1150) Tuesday that would require insurance companies to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.
The Senate earlier this week amended the bill so that insurance companies could decide if autism treatments were medically necessary.
"House Democrats and Republicans came together to help children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder," said state Rep. Barb McIlvaine Smith, D-Chester. "Insurance companies in Pennsylvania currently are not required to cover autism so we needed a strong bill that would allow parents to take advantage of the therapies and treatments designed to help their autistic children."
The amendment, offered by House Speaker Dennis O'Brien, sponsor of H.B. 1150, was unanimously approved by the House Tuesday.
House Bill 1150 would 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 and therapeutic care to include speech, occupational or physical therapy services and prescription drugs.
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