Will Utah, with one of the nations highest rates of autism spectrum disorders, join the majority of states that mandate insurance coverage for its treatment?
On Friday, freshman Sen. Brian Shiozawa, R-Cottonwood Heights and past president of the Utah Medical Association, released SB55, which would require health insurance plans to cover autism treatment.
Whats next
P SB55 is scheduled to be discussed Monday at 4 p.m. in the Senate Business and Labor Standing Committee, room 215 of the Senate Building.
If passed, Utah would join 32 other states that require insurance coverage, according to the national advocacy group Autism Speaks, which endorsed the bill.
Thats a big "if." Utahs autism community has been trying for years to mandate coverage, but last year saw their efforts stymied by a bill that instead created three pilot programs treating about 300 children under the age of 6.
Shiozawa, an emergency physician, was unavailable for immediate comment Friday.
But Mirella Petersen, president of Utah Autism Coalition, which is pushing for insurance coverage, said the senator recognizes "were in a triage situation. We cant do much about it [autism] if were not going to offer effective, early treatment."
The bill requires coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of autism, including speech, occupational and physical therapy, along with applied behavior analysis (ABA) for up to $50,000 a year for children under age 9 and $25,000 for children ages 9 to 18.
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Bill: Mandate Utah insurance coverage for autism treatment