Relates to autism spectrum disorders

50 Co-sponsors

• Craig M. Johnson
• Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
• James S. Alesi
• John J. Bonacic
• John A. DeFrancisco
• Ruben Diaz
• Martin Malavé Dilan
• Hugh T. Farley
• John J. Flanagan
• Brian X. Foley
• Martin J. Golden
• Joseph A. Griffo
• Kemp Hannon
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Shirley L. Huntley
• Owen H. Johnson
• Jeffrey D. Klein
• Carl Kruger
• Andrew J. Lanza
• William J. Larkin Jr.
• Kenneth P. LaValle
• Tom Libous
• Betty Little
• Carl L. Marcellino
• George D. Maziarz
• Roy J. McDonald
• Velmanette Montgomery
• Thomas P. Morahan
• Michael F. Nozzolio
• George Onorato
• Suzi Oppenheimer
• Frank Padavan
• Kevin S. Parker
• Bill Perkins
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer
• Joseph E. Robach
• Stephen M. Saland
• John L. Sampson
• Diane J. Savino
• Eric T. Schneiderman
• José M. Serrano
• Dean G. Skelos
• Daniel L. Squadron
• William T. Stachowski
• Toby Ann Stavisky
• Andrea Stewart-Cousins
• David J. Valesky
• Dale M. Volker
• George Winner
• Eric Adams

Title of bill

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to autism spectrum disorders

Purpose

Provides for insurance coverage of individuals 21 years or younger for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.

Summary of provisions

Section 1. Amends section 3216 of the insurance law to provide insurance coverage for applied behavior analysis therapy for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders in individuals 21 years of age or less, up to a maximum benefit of $36,000.

Section 2. Amends section 3221 of the insurance law to provide insurance coverage for applied behavior analysis therapy for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders in individuals 21 years of age or less, up to a maximum benefit of$36,000.

Section 3. Amends section 4303 of the insurance law to provide insurance coverage for applied behavior analysis therapy for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders in individuals 21 years of age or less, up to a maximum benefit of $36,000.

Section 4. Effective date.

Justification

Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that severely affects the way autistic individuals relate to others socially and their ability to communicate and learn. Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Although it is considered a life span disorder of varying severity, autism is treatable. Early diagnosis and intense early intervention have been proven to provide the same benefits to individuals with autism that medication or medical procedures provide to individuals afflicted with other similar physical or bioneurological disorders. However, many children with autism are not properly diagnosed until years after the first symptoms appear. Furthermore, although insurance companies and health maintenance organizations routinely cover treatment for similar neurobiological disorders, most health insurance plans in the state of New York do not cover autism treatment.

In the absence of coverage, families often pay as much as they can out-of-pocket for services that can cost upwards of $50,000 per year. In the process, many risk their homes and the education's of their unaffected children _ essentially mortgaging their futures. This bill would expedite diagnosis and treatment by providing insurance parity for autism sufferers by requiring equitable coverage of the disorder by insurance companies for individuals 21 years or younger.

Legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

The first of January after it shall have become law.