Vermont lawmakers have approved a bill requiring health insurance companies to cover some therapies used to treat autism.
The bill applies to children with autism who are between 18 months and 6 years old. It calls for a study to determine whether a similar insurance mandate should apply for coverage of older children.
Autism is a complex biological condition that affects a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges.
One mother of a 6-year-old with autism told lawmakers her family had been spending $30,000 a year on therapy for her son — a cost that would largely be covered by health insurance under the bill.
AP reported on Friday about another state:
Some health insurers would be required to cover as much as $45,000 annually of intensive therapy for autistic children under legislation passed yesterday by the Missouri Senate.
Some parents of autistic children, who have lobbied for several years for an insurance mandate, expressed hope that lawmakers finally have hit upon a version that can reach the governor’s desk by next Friday’s end of the legislative session.
The Senate’s 27-6 vote sends the bill back for final approval to the House, which passed a version with lower coverage caps earlier this year.
