On Thursday, the Alabama House unanimously approved an autism insurance mandate Trisha Powell Crain reports at AL.com:
Rep. Jim Patterson, R-Meridianville, sponsored the bill, HB284, saying he wants to do the right thing for families who need help paying for the sometimes expensive therapy.
Introducing the bill on the House floor, Patterson said, "We're going to do something good for families in Alabama. This is what we come to Montgomery to do."
Alabama is one of five states with no requirement that insurance companies cover applied behavior analysis (ABA), the most common and scientifically supported treatment for autism.
Rep. Jack Williams, R-Vestavia Hills, worked to negotiate a compromise bill to contain costs while providing medically necessary services.
Williams added caps on coverage based on a person's age. There are higher caps for younger children, Williams said, because the earlier therapy can be started, the better the outcome.
