By - Associated Press - Thursday, March 19, 2015
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard has signed a bill that would mandate that certain insurance plans cover a costly but effective treatment for children with autism.
Daugaard signed the measure on Thursday. The Legislature last week passed the compromise measure that would require certain insurance plans to pay for applied behavior analysis therapy.
It has not been required of insurers in South Dakota but is in 38 other states.
The bill requires coverage of ABA therapy only by providers who have a masters or doctoral degree. Some parents say that severely restricts the number of providers they can use and had pushed for a broader version of the proposal lawmakers eventually passed.
But the bill establishes a workgroup that will determine how the state should expand coverage moving forward.
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Daugaard signs autism therapy coverage compromise measure