Credit: NBC4
Governor John Kasich joined Autism advocates Wednesday morning to celebrate a new mandate for health insurance coverage of Autism services.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Governor John Kasich joined Autism advocates Wednesday morning to celebrate a new mandate for health insurance coverage of Autism services.
The new mandate will provide access to early childhood therapy for thousands of Ohio children beginning in 2014.
On Wednesday, lawmakers and Autism advocates joined Kasich for a ceremonial signing of the order.
The lack of coverage to date has forced many families with autistic children to make difficult choices about how much, if any, treatment they can afford.
"So now as a parent, I'm forced to provide my son with limited resources, limited opportunities to appropriate care because that's what my family budget will allow," said Reggie Fields, a parent of an autistic child.
The governor says he feels this is the right thing to do.
Autism advocates call the directive their Christmas miracle. Just days before the holiday, Kasich announced that he would sign the executive order requiring insurance coverage for Autism treatments.
Some business groups have opposed the new mandate because of the added cost to employee health insurance, and some claim the mandate is a violation of the Ohio constitution.
See original here:
Gov. Kasich Signs Directive Mandating Coverage For Autism