Directs certain commissioners to study and report on the costs to the state of early diagnosis and treatment of autism

2 Co-sponsors

• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• George Latimer

Title of bill

An act to direct the commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities to study and report upon the cost to the state for the early diagnosis and long-term treatment of autism spectrum disorder

Purpose of bill

To study the costs to the state for the early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and the long-term treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill requires the commissioners of the office for people with developmental disabilities, education, health, the office for children and family services and mental health to cause a study to be performed on the costs to the state for the early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and the long-term treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The study shall include a projected estimate of future state costs associated with state services that will be needed to accommodate the growth in the number of individuals being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Section 2 requires the commissioners to deliver a copy of the findings of the study and any necessary legislative recommendations to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the chair of the mental health and developmental disabilities committee of the senate, and the chair of the mental health committee of the assembly on or before April 1, 2019.

Section 3 is the effective date.

Justification

More than 1 in 88 children in New York State are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This number has increased significantly over the last decade. While thousands of state residents currently receive services for the treatment and care of autism spectrum disorders from the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities including long-term residential care; this number will increase steadily as more children are being diagnosed annually.

The state already has custody or will take custody of many individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as they grow older. The longterm fiscal impact to the state must be assessed immediately in order to plan for the funding necessary to provide proper service levels and improve programs for this vulnerable and increasing population.

Most states do not require private insurance companies to cover even essential autism treatments and services. In the absence of coverage, families often pay for out-of-pocket services that can cost upwards of $50,000 per year. In the process, many risk their homes and the educations of their unaffected children - essentially mortgaging their entire futures.

Prior history

2014: A538A passed assembly; 2012: A9014A referred to mental health; 2011: A6403 referred to mental health; 2010; A8625B referred to mental health. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.