by JIM BERGAMO / KVUE News and photojournalist Scott Guest and editor Rob Diaz
kens5.com
Posted on September 23, 2013 at 6:24 PM
Updated yesterday at 6:24 PM
AUSTIN -- Nationally there's been plenty of healthcare reform discussion about the affordable care act. But here in Texas a new law is now in affect that has flown a bit under the radar. It involves autism reform.
Previously autistic children over the age of 10 were not covered by insurance. This new law changes that.
John Hockenyos and his wife Rebecca Yerly have an autistic son. Sam has been a regular at the Central Texas Autism Center or CTAC since he was three and unable to communicate through the spoken word.
"Sam has improved dramatically," said Yerly. "I know he would not have made the progress he has without those therapies."
Sam is now 10. Under old state law, insurance would no longer cover a significant portion of his treatments.
"We had families that were dreading their kids birthday," said Kelly Rich, a board certified behavioral analyst and the owner and Executive Director of CTAC. "Their treatment plan didn't change. The help they needed didn't change. Their child had a birthday."
Read more:
Parents: Autism reform law to affect children 10 and older