KBIA Local
(2010-02-04)
JEFFERSON CITY, MO
(KBIA) -
The Missouri Senate has tentatively approved a bill that would require insurance providers to pay for treatment for autistic children. Under the measure, insurance providers would pay up to $55,000 dollars a year for behavioral treatment until an autistic child turns 21. Micah Mazurek (ma-ZUR-ik) is a psychologist and director of intervention services at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment disorders at the University of Missouri. She says the bill is exciting news and would help families of autistic children, especially for early intervention treatments of autism."This would mean that families would be able to receive treatment for their young children, and that insurance would pay for that. Right now families are often paying for that out of pocket and that makes it impossible for them to receive the types of treatment that would be most helpful for their children."
Coverage isn't currently required under state law, and the insurance industry says the measure would increase insurance cost. But Mazurek (ma-ZUR-ik) says that such coverage could reduce costs in the long run. Early intervention for autistic children has been effective in helping them acquire communication and adaptive skills so they may require less care in the future. Governor Jay Nixon and legislative leaders have said the issue will be a priority this session. Lawmakers included an amendment yesterday (Wednesday) that would allow Missouri residents to buy insurance from out-of-state companies that don't have to offer autism coverage. The bill needs one more passing vote before it can be sent to the House for consideration. © Copyright 2012, KBIA
