What's happening
This bill requires insurance policies to cover therapeutic care for autism spectrum disorder, removing prior limitations on such coverage.
Why it matters
Expands access to autism therapies. by ensuring all relevant insurance policies must cover both habilitative and nonrestorative therapeutic care for people with autism spectrum disorder, rather than only if the policy already happens to cover such care.
Removes prior loopholes. that allowed insurers to exclude coverage for certain autism therapies, closing a gap that could leave families with significant out-of-pocket costs.
Addresses the full spectrum of needs. by including both “habilitative” (helping individuals gain new skills) and “nonrestorative” (maintenance or prevention of skill loss) therapies, which are critical for ongoing development and quality of life for individuals with autism.
Immediate impact. The law takes effect right away, meaning affected families and individuals can potentially benefit from expanded coverage as soon as it is enacted, reducing delays in accessing necessary care.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Autism Insurance Coverage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
6 Co-sponsors
5 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
431
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI, TITONE, COOK, ENGLEBRIGHT, BENEDETTO, STIRPE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CROUCH, FINCH, GRAF, McDO- NOUGH, MOYA, RAIA, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to coverage for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subclause 5 of clause (ix) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph 25 of subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 596 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(5) therapeutic care, including therapeutic care which is deemed habilitative or nonrestorative[, in the event that the policy provides coverage for therapeutic care]; and
§ 2. Subclause 5 of clause (ix) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph 17 of subsection (1) of section 3221 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 596 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(5) therapeutic care, including therapeutic care which is deemed habilitative or nonrestorative[, in the event that the policy provides coverage for therapeutic care]; and
§ 3. Clause (v) of subparagraph (I) of paragraph 3 of subsection (ee) of section 4303 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 596 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(v) therapeutic care, including therapeutic care which is deemed habilitative or nonrestorative[, in the event that the policy provides coverage for therapeutic care]; and
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03316-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.