CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- In many ways, Jonah Hercules is just like any 6-year-old child. However, it's his battle with autism that he and his father, Jay Hercules, struggle with every day.
“He doesn't understand danger. He doesn't understand that things can hurt him,” Jay Hercules said.
The biggest pain now can be found in his wallet. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a treatment that costs $30,000 to $50,000 a year.
Experts say it's the best thing for any child with autism.
“It's intensive teaching. You need a one to one teacher who's well trained,” Susannah Poe, who diagnoses children with autism, said.
Legislation passed last year was meant to help, providing a $30,000 annual cap for the first three years of treatment. But the wording got mixed up -- giving some insurance companies the idea that it goes for all types of therapy.
That means many parents wouldn't be able to afford everything their children need.
“We're already a very large amount in debt,” Jay Hercules said. “The price that some people would pay for a house.”
Lawmakers are now working to clean up the mistake before the session is over.
“I think the reason people are here is because we're worried. It was a very big fight last year,” Delegate Barbara Fleischauer, (D) Monongalia, said.
“Fixing the legislation will be as much of a relief as the initial passage of the legislation,” Jay Hercules said.
The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee. It still needs to be approved on the floor and sent over to the Senate.
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W.Va. Lawmakers Work to Fix Mistake in Autism Legislation