House Approves Autism Insurance Measure

by Tony McVeigh, Kentucky Public RadioThe Kentucky House has approved legislation requiring insurance companies to pick up some of the high costs of treating autistic children.Brandenburg Rep. Jeff Greer says autism affects one out of every 110 children in Kentucky. Legislation Greer’s sponsoring requires large insurance companies to cover up to 50-thousand dollars a year of applied behavior analysis treatments for autistic children.“They must get diagnosis and treatment, ages one through seven, and they can have a very good shot a life of normalcy. The brain is still developing at those ages," he says.Greer’s bill unanimously passed the House. A Senate bill, which does not cap insurance coverage amounts, is still awaiting committee action. Similar legislation cleared the House in 2007, but died in the Senate.