Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (Getty Images)
ATLANTA -- Last week, Gov. Nathan Deal said the healthcare plan covering state employees should cover autism treatment -- a move applauded by advocates who say early intervention can improve behavior and quality of life.
In his budget this week, Deal would set aside $2.4 million for the coverage. Dozens of other states have passed legislation compelling insurers to provide for the treatments, which can be costly but effective. Research has shown early intervention treatments can prevent or greatly minimize some of the associated disabilities of autism.
READ THE PLAN |Governor Deal's education plan and full text of 2014 State of the State speech
Georgia is one of only 16 states that don't require the coverage, according to state Rep. Ben Harbin, R-Evans, who is the lead sponsor of "Ava's Law" that would compel insurers in the state to pay for the treatments. The bill is named after Anna Bullard's daughter, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2 and who was denied coverage under the state employee health plan in 2006.
"That was almost more of a devastating blow than the diagnosis," said Bullard, of Lyons. "The diagnosis was something I could see, we could get treatment for, we could help her. But with insurance not covering it, I wasn't sure what we would do."
Bullard said she and her husband, who is a school teacher, maxed out their credit cards and received financial help from her parents to cover the treatments for Ava, which cost about $5,000 a month. Now 9, Ava is doing well - attending school in a regular classroom and making friends.
"I keep fighting for that very reason, because Ava doesn't need treatment any more. Every child deserves that chance," said Bullard, who plans to come to the Capitol twice a week to advocate for the bill.
At the core of autism are developmental disabilities that affect the ability to communicate, understand language, play and relate to others.
Details of specific treatments that might be covered, for how long and for what age must still be worked out by the Department of Community Health, which oversees the state employee health plan. Nearly 635,000 members and dependents were enrolled in the state plan as of December.
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Gov. Deal supports autism coverage for state employees