State legislation - Maryland HB 1091 & SB 1028 autism insurance bills; would cover applied behavior analysis. Committee hearing March 11, 2010

The Maryland General Assembly is currently entertaining two bills HB 1091 and SB 1028, that would provide health insurance coverage of applied behavior analysis for those with autism spectrum disorders.

A hearing for the first bill, HB 1091, will occur in the House of Delegates’ Health and Government Operations Committee at 1:00 pm Thursday, March 11, 2010, House Office Building, 6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401-1991.
Autism Votes has an action alert at their Facebook page for advocates for HB 1091 with a list of specific strategic actions that they would like taken on behalf of supporting the bill.
Please see their Facebook page for those details.

Maryland HB 1091: Health Insurance - Coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Bill text
Introduced and read first time: February 17, 2010
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations

Cross-filed bill,

Senate Bill 1028: Health Insurance - Coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorders 
Bill text
Introduced and read first time: February 25, 2010
Assigned to: Rules

The synopses of both bills:

Requiring insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders and treatment of autism spectrum disorders; requiring specified treatment of autism spectrum disorders to be prescribed and provided by specified individuals; clarifying that specified provisions of the Act may not be construed as limiting specified benefits otherwise available to an individual; prohibiting specified limits on visits to an autism services provider; etc.

Both bills defines applied behavior analysis, include it under the treatment category of "habilitative or rehabilitative care" as prescribed by a licensed physician, psychologist, as provided for under the bills,

Applied behavior analysis would be provided by an individual
(1) Licensed under Title 14 [physician] or Title 18 [psychologist] of the Health Occupations Article, or under the supervision of an individual licensed under Title 14 or Title 18 of the Health Occupations Article; or
(2) A Board Certified Behavior Analyst or a Board Certified Associate [sic] Behavior Analyst credentialed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.

For more information
Maryland House Bill 1091
Maryland Senate Bill 1028
Maryland General Assembly

Autism Votes Facebook page on the 3/11/10 hearing
Autism Votes Maryland

Thursday, March 4, 2010
Coffee, Bagels, and Autism Insurance Reform in Maryland

© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
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