GEORGIA - Thursday is the last day of the Georgia legislative session, and lawmakers have until midnight to tackle some pretty big issues.
Right now the Kid Care Act, as it stands, is the combination of cannabis oil legalization and a mandate for autism insurance. Many lawmakers want to strip the bill of the autism language. It's a fight that supporters have taken to the capitol for the last five years.
Melissa Solares, a local mom has been along for the ride since the session started in January, "Had somebody told me that in Georgia, autism treatment would be more controversial than marijuana, I would have laughed, but here we are and that's what happened."
Solares is a mother two. Her older son, Arturo has autism. He has made great progress due to Applied Behavioral Analysis. The family pays out of pocket for his ABA because insurance providers right now are not required to cover the therapy.
Morgan Kendrick, president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, says he supports the treatment, just not a mandate requiring coverage, "It's in the fact that we're taking a fiscally responsible position on how does a mandate affect overarching cost, and our overwhelming perspective is on affordability, and is it affordable for the consumers we serve."
34 other states have passed an insurance mandate that requires small businesses and private insurers to offer coverage for autism.
Solares said insurance companies have put up opposition, "They're a business. I'm not out to demonize insurance companies, I'm glad they're there. I use them, happily, when I have the flu and for my well child checkups, but it's a business and they need to make money."
She says mandates in other states increased premiums by less than the cost of a stamp per month, "We have the right reason on our side. That's to help Georgia's children and to help Georgia's taxpayers. That's to bring jobs to Georgia, and this bill will do all of those things."
Kendrick said, "You've got a real challenge of balancing, what's the right thing to do for the consumer financially, versus having coverage that's effective for all. So I am a supporter of fewer mandates, quite honestly."
The Kid Care Act has passed the Senate, it's now in the House awaiting a vote. It is very possible that the House could strip the bill of the autism language. From there, the cannabis oil bill would have to go back to the senate for a vote again. We'll keep you posted.
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Local mom: Autism treatment more controversial than marijuana