CHILDREN WITH AUTISM: A new health insurance mandate for coverage of autism treatment applies only to state employees. But lawmakers say it’s an experiment to demonstrate the coverage doesn’t cost much, so it should become a statewide mandate. The cost for the state will be about $140,000 next year.AP reports on a rally in Montgomery:
About 180 people have rallied in front of the Alabama Statehouse to urge lawmakers to continue funding for programs and services to help children and adults with autism.
The crowd Tuesday included children and adults with autism and their parents.
Republican state Rep. Cam Ward of Alabaster and Democratic Lt. Gov Jim Folsom Jr. urged the crowd to make sure the state continues to give priority to helping people with autism. Folsom and Ward led efforts last year to pass a bill establishing an interagency council to coordinate services available for autistic Alabama residents.
Ward's daughter, Riley, has autism and Folsom has an autistic nephew.
Folsom said the effort to help people with autism includes Republicans and Democrats because some issues are "too important for politics."
