LEG NEWS: Updated list of Virginia autism insurance bills - Virginia HB 34, HB 303, SB 464 , and SB 649

**1/31/10 - Update to original post of 1/21/2010 to add HB 34; 

Virginia autism insurance bills to date are HB 34, HB 303,  SB 464, SB 649.

• H.B. 34 Health insurance; mandated coverage for autism spectrum disorder.
  12/18/09  House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/10 10100553D
  12/18/09  House: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
  01/15/10  House: Assigned Committee on Commerce and Labor Subcommittee #1

Health insurance; mandated coverage for autism spectrum disorder.  Requires health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder in individuals under age 21.


Esp. relevant to Behavior Analysts :
H.B. 34 [full text] defines "applied behavior analysis" and classifies applied behavior analysis for coverage under "Habilitative or rehabilitative care" meaning "professional, counseling, and guidance services and treatment programs, including applied behavior analysis, that are necessary to develop, maintain, and restore, to the maximum extent practicable, the functioning of an individual." Behavior analysts are not specified or identified as providers of applied behavior analysis nor are the competencies of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board specified.

Under "Treatment for autism spectrum disorder" as identified in a treatment plan and includes the
following care prescribed, provided, or ordered for an individual diagnosed with one of the autism spectrum disorders by a licensed physician, a licensed psychologist, or a licensed clinical social worker who determines the care to be medically necessary: (i) habilitative or rehabilitative care; (ii) pharmacy (iii) psychiatric care; (iv) psychological care; and (v) therapeutic care.  Other models of diagnosis, pharmacy, psychiatric,psychological, and therapeutic care, the providers are explicitly identified.

End of update #2**
**1/30/10 - Update to add an additional bill, which has multiple proposals, but also includes an insurance reform section:

• S.B. 649  Autism Tuition Assistance Grant Program; established.
  Offered January 20, 2010
  Referred to [Senate] Committee on Commerce and Labor

Autism Tuition Assistance Grant Program established; mandated health insurance for autism.  Establishes a tuition assistance grant program for students with autism. The program provides grants of no more than $20,000 a year per student to a Virginia nonsectarian private school of choice for students identified as autistic and for whom individual education plans have been written.

Esp. relevant to Behavior Analysts :  - under,
130 § 38.2-3418.16. Coverage for autism spectrum disorder [full text page 3-5]

SB 649 [full text] defines "applied behavior analysis" and classifies applied behavior analysis for coverage under "Habilitative or rehabilitative care" meaning "professional, counseling, and guidance services and treatment programs, including applied behavior analysis, that are necessary to develop, maintain, and restore, to the maximum extent practicable, the functioning of an individual." Behavior analysts are not specified or identified as providers of applied behavior analysis nor are the competencies of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board specified.

Under "Treatment for autism spectrum disorder" as identified in a treatment plan and includes the
following care prescribed, provided, or ordered for an individual diagnosed with one of the autism spectrum disorders by a licensed physician, a licensed psychologist, or a licensed clinical social worker who determines the care to be medically necessary: (i) habilitative or rehabilitative care; (ii) pharmacy (iii) psychiatric care; (iv) psychological care; and (v) therapeutic care.  Other models of diagnosis, pharmacy, psychiatric,psychological, and therapeutic care, the providers are explicitly identified.
End of Update**
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Two bills which would mandate insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorder have been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly,

• HB 303: Health insurance; mandated coverage for autism spectrum disorder.  
  Prefiled January 11, 2010, Offered January 13, 2010
  Referred to House Committee on Commerce and Labor,and referred then to
  House Commerce and Labor Sub-Committee: #1
  

and

• SB 464 Health insurance; mandated coverage for autism spectrum disorder.
  Prefiled January 13, 2010, Offered January 13, 2010
  Referred to [Senate] Committee on Commerce and Labor
  

Both bills describe that coverage, under certain types of policies, shall include diagnosis and treatment of ASD through the age of 9, although it does not preclude coverage over age of 10.

Esp. relevant to Behavior Analysts :
"Applied behavior analysis" is defined, and applied behavior analytic services are classified under the category of "habilitative or rehabilitative care".

Providers of applied behavior analysis are not defined nor are the competencies of the BACB certificants or similar included in the bills as filed.
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For further information

Autism Votes - Virginia

Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System

Virginia General Assembly

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