Autism in the Health Care Debate: Senate
Thursday, November 5, 2009
By: Hannah Cary

Keep autism insurance and autism interests in the debate

Work continues on merging the bills that have been produced by both committees of jurisdiction in the Senate: the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and the Finance Committee. It is unclear what will be included in the final Senate health-care reform bill, although it is likely to include the following provisions that are positive for people with autism since they were present in both committees’ mark-ups:

• Insurers would be prohibited from excluding coverage based on pre-existing conditions;
• Insurers would be prevented from selectively refusing to renew coverage;
• Insurers would no longer be able to charge people different premiums based on their health status, gender or occupation;
• A standardized annual out-of-pocket spending limit would be established so that no family would face bankruptcy due to medical expenses;
• Annual and lifetime benefit caps would be prohibited;
• Mental health would be covered;
• “Habilitative” and “maintenance services” would be covered.

Senator Menendez offered an amendment, accepted by the Finance Committee, that paralleled Representative Doyle’s amendment in the House requiring health insurers to cover behavioral health treatments. It is unclear whether this will be included in the final version of the Senate bill, but the Autism Society sees this provision as a positive step towards providing families with options and opportunities for treating autism. Call your Senators to keep these principles in the final Senate version.

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