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Partly Cloudy Autism bill passes Legislature
Measure would require insurance companies to cover treatments
The State Senate and Assembly passed legislation on June 17 to ensure that people with autism receive insurance coverage for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
The legislation, which passed unanimously in the Senate and by a large majority in the Assembly, will now be sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for consideration. He will have 10 days to sign the measure or veto it.
State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., a Republican from Merrick, was the lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate. “This is a giant step forward towards helping families with autism get the care they need,” Fuschillo said. “Many of these families are literally going broke paying for this care because their insurance companies refuse to provide coverage.”
Currently, people with autism are routinely denied insurance benefits for the treatment of the disorder, forcing their families to bear the cost. The legislation would require insurance companies to provide coverage for such measures as behavioral health treatments, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. In addition, it would prohibit insurance companies from terminating or refusing to renew coverage for those who have been diagnosed with or treated for autism.
“It’s long past time to give these families access to treatment coverage just like any other condition, and ensure that they are not denied services solely because of an autism diagnosis,” Fuschillo said. “That’s exactly what this legislation would do.”
Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, a Democrat from Irondequoit, was the lead sponsor of the bill in the Assembly. Assemblyman David McDonough, a Republican from Merrick, was a co-sponsor of the measure. “By covering this, it will be a benefit to the children as well as help to eliminate the dire need that they end up in financially,” said McDonough. “We can’t discriminate one condition against another. It’s medically necessary that the children receive the treatment and the care that we would expect for our children for any other situation.
“I’m happy that it passed,” McDonough continued. “Obviously, we could do a lot more, and I hope that in the future we’ll be able to.”
