Office of Speaker Dennis M. O’Brien

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

139 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CONTACT:  Bill Patton

                                                                                                                       717-787-4610

House commits to stronger autism insurance bill

HARRISBURG, July 2 – The House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday (H.B. 1150) that will ensure fair treatment and better health care for thousands of Pennsylvania children with autism.

The bill requires private insurers to cover proven treatments of autism spectrum disorders for children and young adults up to age 21 beginning in July 2009.

“This will confirm Pennsylvania’s status as the national leader when it comes to helping families to deal with autism by ending discrimination in insurance coverage,” said House Speaker Dennis O’Brien, the bill’s sponsor.

The House’s 203-0 vote positions the bill for a final vote in the Senate, possibly today, before the measure goes to the governor to become law. 

After conferring with Senate leaders on Tuesday, O’Brien is optimistic that the Senate will concur in the updated autism insurance language.

“I want to especially recognize the hard work and unwavering commitment of Senator Jane Orie, the co-chair of the House-Senate Autism Caucus,” he said. “She is a strong advocate for all Pennsylvanians living with autism spectrum disorders.”

He thanked Senator Dominic Pileggi for facilitating and energizing the final phase of the discussion that led to an agreement and Senators Don White, Mike Stack and Joseph Scarnati for their efforts to pass a bill that ensures adequate health care and rehabilitative services for children with autism.

“The Senate and House were able to work together and achieve the necessary wording that guarantees the substance of autism insurance coverage. The precise definitions now included in the bill will ensure greater continuity of care for kids using both private insurance and the state’s Medical Assistance program,” O’Brien said.

He noted that the bill includes definitions of behavior specialist, rehabilitative care, and applied behavioral analysis. ABA has been proven an effective treatment for thousands of children living with autism. This important element was sought by autism advocates from all over Pennsylvania.

The bill exempts groups with 50 or fewer insured employees, but it requires coverage of autism treatment up to age 21 by state government insurance programs such as CHIP and adultBasic.

O’Brien said the state’s position as a leader in treating autism is due to the work of dozens of scientists and doctors doing groundbreaking autism research in Pennsylvania and also the leadership of Public Welfare Secretary Estelle Richman, who created an Autism Task Force five years ago and then methodically set about implementing each of the panel’s recommendations.

“Pennsylvania is blessed to have visionary people like Secretary Richman leading the charge to improve the lives of all people with disabilities,” he said.

“Families who already pay premiums for health insurance ought to be able to get the care and services they need. By approving this bill, we can help all insured families get the necessary tools to obtain an early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders and deal with the challenges that often arise with this condition.

“It comes down to a question of whether health insurance policies will truly cover the needs of policyholders and no longer exclude crucial services for thousands of children,” O’Brien said.

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