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

Autism insurance bill wins House approval

HARRISBURG, July 14 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today passed a bill sponsored by Speaker Dennis O’Brien to end widespread discrimination by private health insurance companies by requiring them to provide coverage for autism-related services.

“This bill will open the doors to medical care, accurate diagnosis, and intervention and support services for Pennsylvanians with autism,” O’Brien said. “It will also strengthen the state’s network of service providers and researchers, which is already world-class.”

On Friday, the House adopted an amendment offered by O’Brien to address concerns that were raised by insurance companies. The House then defeated several amendments that O’Brien opposed which would have weakened parts of the bill.

The measure (H.B. 1150) passed unanimously today and now goes to the Senate for consideration. Among its strong advocates were the majority and minority chairmen of the House Insurance Committee, Reps. Tony DeLuca, D-Allegheny, and Nick Micozzie, R-Delaware.

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, also provided important legislative help when the bill was considered by the Insurance Committee.

“The human toll caused by the refusal of insurers to provide this coverage is immense. Families are under stress, their finances under attack, and without early diagnosis and intervention services the futures of thousands of young Pennsylvanians are slipping away,” O’Brien said.

“This is, quite simply, an issue of civil rights for thousands of Pennsylvanians,” O’Brien said. “It’s a matter of justice.”

His measure would require private insurers to cover up to $36,000 per year for autism services. Because coverage denied by private insurance is now paid for by the state, it is estimated this measure will save state taxpayers at least $22 million per year in payments by the Medical Assistance program.

If an individual’s annual treatment costs exceed the $36,000 paid by a private insurer, then the state will assume the additional costs.

“The legislation passed by the House will help to ensure the Medical Assistance program is serving its intended role as a safety net, not as the sole provider of care,” O’Brien said.

“This bill will open doors of hope and development for those living with autism,” he said. “By increasing access to medical care and accurate diagnosis, it will pierce the darkness of the autism avalanche.”

Pennsylvania’s medical and research communities are poised to be leaders in the international response to autism, which according to the Centers for Disease Control afflicts at least one in 150 children born in the United States.

“By ensuring better coverage of services, and therefore wider availability, this bill can help our outstanding physicians and scientists to solve the autism puzzle,” O’Brien said.

“I have been talking with key senators throughout this process and I look forward to working with them further as the Senate takes up the bill,” he said.

The fight to help children with autism spectrum disorders has been a top legislative priority of O’Brien for many years. When he became Speaker in January, he made a commitment to use his increased visibility to help children and young adults with disabilities.

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