Ohio House considers bill mandating insurance coverage of autism

A bill in the Ohio House would require health-insurance companies to cover autism treatment the same as other medical conditions. "Currently, many health plans cover the diagnosis of the brain disorder but not treatment." (Source: "The cost of treating autism," The Columbus Dispatch, November 8, 2007.) The article profiles one family who "spent almost $60,000 out-of-pocket on speech, occupational and behavioral therapy" for their children with autism.

The bill currently under consideration in the Ohio House is supported by Representatives Jon Peterson (R) and Ted Celeste (D) and is modeled "after the 2-month-old mental-health parity law, which requires that health insurance cover certain psychological conditions. Like the mental-health parity law, this bill would apply to fully insured plans, not self-insured policies. Larger companies and governments tend to have self-insured plans that are governed by federal rules." Insurance-industry officials are concerned the bill will open the door to more mandates based on a disease or health condition. Kelly McGivern, president of the Ohio Association of Health Plans, said "Each individual has the belief that their cause is the one that the government needs to find the solution to. We believe employers who buy policies should make the decision."