The Politics of Autism includes an extensive discussion of insurance legislation in the states.
AT KCAU-TV, Christina Grijalva reports that, althought the Iowa Senate earlier passed an autism insurance mandate, Iowa House members did not advance the bill.
Parent advocates, like Josh Cobbs, as well as others, have been working on this issue for about 10 years.
"My guy was a shade over five and he turned 16 on Monday," said Cobbs. "So it's been a long haul. "
The proposed bill, which would have provided coverage for those 21 and under with Autism, passed with bi-partisan support in the Senate.
"Unfortunately, there was a lot of push back from the insurance industry, the House Republicans chose not to move that bill forward out of the house commerce committee," said Iowa Representative, Chris Hall. "I think it really shortchanges a lot of families."
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The Pier Center for Autism is the only autism therapy center in Sioux City.
However, due to insurance coverage issues, Clinical Director, Sean Peterson says, they are limited in who qualifies for treatment.
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"Insurance coverage would allow those families to have quite a burden lifted off of them, financially, said Peterson. "But also in terms of actually getting those services to the level that their children need."
