State legislation: Iowa - SF1 autism insurance bill survives legislative "funnel week"

The Iowa General Assembly has been fast-tracking bills this week to determine whether they make the cut to the next step in the legislative process or are going down to quick defeat during "funnel week" where non-money bills not approved in a standing committee are considered DOA. The legislature, which has a scheduled adjournment date of late April is working in a cost-cutting effor to bring business to an early conclusion in March. The next "funnel week" is scheduled in three weeks.

Of potential interest to behavior analysts is the autism insurance bill SF1 (Reilly) 

Iowa SF1:A bill for an act requiring certain group health insurance policies, contracts, or plans to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders for certain persons, requiring certification of behavior specialists, and providing an applicability date.

which is reported to have been narrowly approved in the Senate Commerce Committee  on February 11, 2010 , although the coverage was said to have been amended to only apply to state employee health plans. It is not known at this time the specific language of the current amended version of SF1 and whether amendments were also made to affect requested coverage of applied behavior analysis or the practice of behavior analysis.


With those caveats in mind, the introduced version of SF1 did make reference to applied behavior analysis and practice related to service delivery,

"Applied behavior(al) analysis" is defined in the bill.

Applied behavior(al) analysis is placed within "Rehabilitative care" and defined to be "professional services treatment programs, including applied behavioral analysis, provided by an autism service provider to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior or to prevent loss of attained skill or function."

SF1 also defines the certification and competencies of "Behavior specialists", stating
that,

a "'Behavior specialist' means an individual, certified by the commissioner, who designs, implements, or evaluates a behavior modification intervention component of a treatment plan, including those based on applied behavioral analysis, to produce socially significant improvements in human behavior or to prevent loss of attained skill or function, through skill acquisition and the reduction of problematic behavior,

and that,

"The commissioner, in consultation with the board of medicine, shall adopt rules providing for the certification of behavior specialists..."

The full text of SF1 as introduced further specifies the application and conditions of certification as a "Behavior Specialist". Please consult that full text for the information.

As of today, (February 12, 2010, 12:40PM PST), the tenative Iowa Senate calendar is not showing SF1 as one of the bills scheduled for debate on the Senate floor on Monday, February 15, 2010.

Autism Votes has been actively engaged in advocacy for SF1 and is tracking the bill at the Autism Votes - Iowa page.


FOR MORE INFORMATION


Autism Votes - Iowa

Iowa SF1

Iowa General Assembly

Sioux City Family Fights For Autism 

KCAU-TV 

Video news report on a 1/27/2010 subcommittee meeting

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Iowa Legislature: Texting ban alive, medicinal pot not as bills hit deadline
By JENNIFER JACOBS • jejacobs@dmreg.com • February 12, 2010
"...A health insurance mandate for treatment for autism squeezed through at the last minute, but would apply only to state employees' health plans..."

Feb 01, 2010 | 6:35 pm
Funnel week: It's 'do-or-die' for bills
Sioux City Journal.com

ABA Chapters for/in Iowa
Heartland Association for Behavior Analysis

Iowa Association for Behavior Analysis

Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis

© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
Disclaimer: This blog publishes news and announcements only as a service to interested persons, the posts are the responsibility of the individual author, and unless otherwise noted do not constitute nor claim to represent the official position of ABA International, its officers or associated entities. This blog makes no representation as to the accuracy of the report and readers are strongly encouraged to consult and reference the primary sources noted.