July 24th, 2008

Autism advocates across the state are currently praising a  law recently signed by Gov. Rendell that will require private insurers to cover treatment costs for autistic children (under the age of 21) for up to $36,000 a year.  After families reach the $36,000 mark they can apply to Medicaid to help with the rest of the bill. 

The law was sponsored and pushed through the Legislature by Speaker of the House Dennis O’Brien (R-Philadelphia), who has an autistic nephew and believes the new  insurance requirement is ”a social responsibility” to children with the disorder. 

The Philadelphia Inqurier reports:

“With autism diagnoses on the rise nationally – it is estimated that 1 out of every 150 children are diagnosed with the disorder – many states are pushing private insurers to begin shouldering some of the costs of treatment.

But only eight, including Pennsylvania, have enacted laws mandating varying degrees of insurance coverage for diagnosis and treatment, according to Autism Speaks, a national organization dedicated to increasing awareness of the disorder.”