**Update 1/26/2010 - The Council of the District of Columbia website seems to indicate that no action has been taken on B18-058 since it was circulated and assigned to committee. This post will be further updated or new info posted in a separate blogpost at such time that hearing or other action is scheduled or occurs**
--------------------------On November 17, 2009 legislation requesting insurance coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorders was introduced to the Council of the District of Columbia and has been referred to Public Services and Consumer Affairs Committee.
The bill is B18-0528, "HEALTH INSURANCE FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM ACT OF 2009".
Sponsors: Wells, Bowser, Catania, Co-sponsors: Brown, Thomas, Alexander, Cheh, Gray
pdf of the legislation.
Some clauses relevant to coverage of applied behavior analytic therapies:
Under "habilitative or rehabilitative care" includes applied behavior analysis among treatment modalities and explicitly mentions board certified behavior analysts. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) shall be limited to a maximum benefit of $55,000 annually.
This act applies only to fully-funded health plans governed by state law and applies to all individual all individual and group health benefit plans issued or renewed on the first day of the month beginning on or after 180 days following the effective date of the act.
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Related:
DC officials propose autism insurance requirements
Washington Examiner, Associated Press
11/15/09
Autism Speaks, Washington, DC Councilmembers Tommy Wells And Muriel Bowser Announce Introduction Of Autism Insurance Reform Bill
Autismvotes
11/16/09
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Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
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Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG or individual SIG member authors and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website,
Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
-----------
Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG or individual SIG member authors and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website,
