NEWS: Passed Wisconsin Budget Bill Specifies Mandated Autism Insurance Services

The just-passed Wisconsin budget bill, (The state Assembly approved 51-46 Thursday evening. The state Senate approved the measure 17-15 early Friday morning) includes some language that might be of interest to Wisconsin Behavior Analysts and their client families.

ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, TO 2009 ASSEMBLY BILL 75 (1903pp.)

Mandates insurance coverage of autism treatment, including "intensive-level services" including "evidence−based behavioral therapy" and "non-intensive-level services",

Pages related to autism coverage and providers in the mammoth bill are those starting at,
1594: 609.87 Coverage of treatment for autism spectrum disorders.
1615: 632.895 (12m) TREATMENT FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.
1868: (8L) INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR AUTISM TREATMENT

p. 1615,
3. “Intensive−level services” means evidence−based behavioral therapy that is designed to help an individual with autism spectrum disorder overcome the cognitive, social, and behavioral deficits associated with that disorder.
4. “Nonintensive−level services” means therapy that occurs after the completion of treatment with intensive−level services and that is designed to sustain and maximize gains made during treatment with intensive−level services or, for an individual who has not and will not receive intensive−level services, therapy that will improve the individual’s condition

although the details of what those terms exactly define and who are service providers are, are specified to be worked out in regulation via the Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner.

p. 1617,
"(f) 1. The commissioner shall by rule further define “intensive−level services” and “nonintensive−level services” and define “paraprofessional” for purposes of par. (b) 4. and “qualified” for purposes of providing services under this subsection. The commissioner may promulgate rules governing the interpretation or administration of this subsection."

It is also possible that Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle could alter the passed budget bill through partial veto power, however in the past Gov. Doyle has thrown his support behind obtaining an autism insurance mandate.

For more information,

• Wisconsin state budget clears legislature
  Green Bay Press Gazette
  6/26/09
  

• Autism Votes - Wisconsin

• Wisconsin Autism Insurance Now

• DAWN (Disability Advocates Wisconsin Network)
  Disability Budget proposals page
  

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