Children with autism could have treatments covered by insurance by the end of this year under a measure that a House of Delegates committee passed this morning.
The bill, sponsored by Thomas A. "Tag" Greason, R-Loudoun, is intended to address technical issues that have delayed implementation of the autism insurance mandate legislation passed during last year's session.
Greason's bill gives the Board of Medicine the power to promulgate the regulations that legislators asked them to last year, and directs them to do it within 280 days. It also creates a work group of industry experts to help the board with the regulations.
The measure carries an emergency clause, which would speed it through the General Assembly to the governor's desk. Emergency legislation, which takes effect upon the governor's signature, requires the approval of 80 percent of lawmakers in each chamber.
The House's Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee approved the measure 21-0 this morning.
"The governor has said he's going to sign it as soon as he gets it on his desk," Greason said.
Legislation passed last year requires health insurers to cover some treatments for autistic children ages 2 to 6, with a cap on annual coverage costs of $35,000. It does not apply to self-insured companies and would exempt businesses with 50 or fewer employees.
It covers state employees and the $1 million reserved to cover increased premiums that the state would pay for state workers is still earmarked.
The law was intended to take effect this month, but the attorney general's office concluded that the state Board of Medicine did not have the power to create the regulations as asked. Essentially, the new legislation aims to give the board the authority lawmakers thought they had given it last year.
Greason's measure, HB1106, will come before the House of Delegates for a final vote on Friday.
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