Ohio H.B. 8, 128^th General Assembly
Health Insurance Coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_HB_8

• Prohibits health insurers from excluding coverage for specified autism services for individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
• Requires the Director of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities to convene a committee on the coverage of autism spectrum disorders to investigate and recommend additional treatments or therapies for autism spectrum disorders to be covered by health insurers.

Introduced by: Representative Ted Celeste (D), District 24 and Representative Nancy Garland (D), District 20
Co-Sponsors: Okey, Harris, Dyer, Foley, Lundy, Harwood, Koziura, Stebelton, Hagan, Skindell, Stewart, Heard, Mallory, DeBose, Patten, Pryor, Yuko, Pillich, Newcomb, Murray, Phillips, Winburn, Letson, Bolon, Luckie, B. Williams, Slesnick, Moran

The bill prohibits policies, contracts, agreements, and plans of health insuring corporations, sickness and accident insurers, public employee benefit plans, and multiple employer welfare arrangements from excluding coverage for the screening and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders of for any of the following services for individuals already diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder:  habilitative or rehabilitative care, psychological care, therapeutic care, and counseling services.

This bill does not apply to supplemental insurance policies. An opt out provision as well as stipulations about existing programs is included in this bill.

Date introduced: 2/17/09
Committee Assigned: Healthcare Access & Affordability, Chair: Lorraine Fende (D)
Committee Report: 4/1/09