State legislation: Iowa - Committee substitute SF 2349 replaces autism insurance bill SF 1; retains certified "behavior specialists"

In a previous post it was reported that Senate File (SF)1: 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.
was passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee with amendment but at that time the nature of those amendments were not known.

At the Iowa Legislature on February 15, 2010 it is reported that SF1 has been replaced by

Committee substitute Senate File 2349

Senate File 2349 - Introduced
SENATE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE
(SUCCESSOR TO SF 1)

A BILL FOR An Act requiring certain group health insurance established for employees of the state to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders for certain persons, requiring certification of behavior specialists, and providing an applicability date.

The most recent actions are
FEB. 15 10 Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 405.
FEB. 15 10 Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 407.

Bill Title: *SENATE FILE 2349 (formerly SF 1), a bill for an act requiring certain group health insurance established for employees of the state to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders for certain persons, requiring certification of behavior specialists, and providing an applicability date.
Recommendation: APPROVED COMMITTEE BILL.
Final Vote: Ayes, 11 Nays, 3 Absent, 1

Fiscal Note: NOT REQUIRED UNDER JOINT RULE 17.
*Pursuant to Senate Rule 40, the Legislative Services Agency reported nonsubstantive changes to the members of the Commerce Committee on Senate File 2349, and they were attached to the committee report.

Brief review seems to indicate that the clauses in SF 1 related to the creation of a "behavior specialist" certification still apply, to wit:

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..."

See the full text of SF 2349 for specific language.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To create an Iowa Legislature Bill and Code Watch

Iowa Legislature

Autism Votes Iowa

Past post
Friday, February 12, 2010
State legislation: Iowa - SF1 autism insurance bill survives legislative "funnel week"

© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
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