Rell signs autism bill
Posted by ConnPolitics.tv Staff on July 24th, 2008
Hartford (WTNH) – Gov. Jodi Rell signed a bill today that expands treatment for autism and also creates a statewide plan for teaching children with the disorder.
Effective January 1, 2009, health insurance companies must cover physical, speech and occupational therapies for patients with autism if their policies cover the same treatment for other diseases and conditions.
A study will also be conducted to develop recommendations for a comprehensive teaching plan. The findings of the study must be reported to the Legislature by February 1, 2009.
The National Institutes of Health estimates that three to six children out of every 1,000 have some type of autism.
6 comments
Comment from: I Care! [Visitor]
Thanks so much Gov. Rell!! This means so much to my family and the many others out there struggling to pay for therapies to help these kids. Kudos to you!
07/24/08 @ 17:43
Comment from: Regina Martin [Visitor] 
Governor Rell:
This means so much to my husband and I and especially our son, EJ. There have been so many things that I have been prevented from doing because it wasn't covered by my insurance. The children who suffer with this condition and their parents THANK YOU!
This means so much to my husband and I and especially our son, EJ. There have been so many things that I have been prevented from doing because it wasn't covered by my insurance. The children who suffer with this condition and their parents THANK YOU!
07/24/08 @ 17:52
Comment from: A mom of another kind of disorder [Visitor]
This is great news, but what about other disabilities, like down syndrome, shaken baby syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome? Don't these children deserve just as much attention? And the same laws to govern the therapies that they require?
07/24/08 @ 18:03
Comment from: Marci B [Visitor]
Its about time, my son is autistic and for me and so many families like mine,we say thank you!!
07/25/08 @ 11:43
Comment from: Thank you! [Visitor]
Other disorders ARE covered by insurance. Autism, up until now, has been a big loophole, where insurance companies refused to pay for treatment as they do for other disorders (such as Down's, or the reprocussions of shaken baby syndrome) thus the quality of care a child with autism received up until now depended solely on how much the individual school district was willing to help with things such as OT/speech therapy etc.. OR how rich the parents were, because all of us parents of autistic kids (UNLIKE kids with other disabilities) have been paying OUT OF POCKET for treatment. Most of us have spent our life savings until there was none left. This loophole, the insurance companies saying it was "educational issue" when it is in fact a disorder specified in the DSM, and has long been recognized by medical professionals, was simply unfair, and prevented children with autistic spectrum conditions from simply getting the SAME (no more no less) amount of these services as a child with another disorder would under their specific insurance policy. This is not at tax payers expense, it is forcing insurance companies to stop putting the burdon on parents and schools. Have you ever heard of an insurance company refusing to pay for speech/language therapy for a child with Down's or brain damage due to shaken baby syndrome? Absolutely not.
Thank you Gov. Rell. My son was at the program on Thursday where you made the announcement on the news:-) We are very grateful for this breakthrough as we also have another younger autistic child!!
Thank you Gov. Rell. My son was at the program on Thursday where you made the announcement on the news:-) We are very grateful for this breakthrough as we also have another younger autistic child!!
07/25/08 @ 17:02
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