New Oklahoma Law

Though it does not mandate that insurers cover ABA, a new law in Oklahoma pleases parents of autistic kids. The Tulsa World reports:

Advocates for children with autism say that a bill signed into law Friday by Gov. Brad Henry is a good first step toward parity in health coverage for the disorder.

The legislation, added to Senate Bill 2045, requires health insurers to cover the same illnesses for autistic children as they do for children without the condition. The law came about after parents reported that medical coverage was denied for services having nothing to do with autism, such as playground injuries.

"This is a bill to stop any restrictions or discrimination against individuals with autism from medical or surgical procedures that are currently covered," said Wayne Rohde, whose 12-year-old son Nick was diagnosed with severe regressive autism when he was 4.

"The insurance companies needed to stop this discrimination. The leadership of both parties decided it wasn't right."

Rohde said insurance companies were limiting coverage for occupational and speech therapy for autistic children but not imposing those limitations for children without autism seeking the same treatment.

Click here for more on the broader issue of an autism insurance mandate in Oklahoma