State legislation: Vermont S. 262, to receive 3rd reading in VT Senate on March 23, 2010; Finance committee recommends amendments revising bill to insurance study bill

Vermont Public Radio has a listing that Vermont Senate bill,

S. 262 Insurance coverage for autism diagnosis and treatment 

as amended by Finance Committee recommendation is scheduled for a third reading in the Senate on Tuesday, March 23, 2010; the Senate convenes at 10 am EDT.

S.262 was introduced on January 5, 2010 in the Vermont Senate, read one time and referred to the Committee on Finance. In the bill text as introduced [pdf],  "Applied behavior analysis" was defined, and applied behavior analytic services classified under the coverage category of habilitative or rehabilitative care. There was a statement of an "Autism services provider" to mean any person providing treatment of autism spectrum disorders, and S. 262 as introduced was endorsed by Autism Speaks on January 13, 2010.

Subsequent to referral to the Committee on Finance, the Committee recommended that the clauses after enactment be stricken, and the bill be amended with replacement language which effectively changes the bill from an insurance bill to an insurance study bill,

“An act relating to a study of coverage of appropriate services for children with autism spectrum disorders”

[A preamble],
Sec. 2. STUDY OF COVERAGE OF APPROPRIATE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
(a) The department of banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration shall convene a work group to consider insurance coverage and other treatment options for children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The work group shall comprise:
(1) the commissioner of banking, insurance, securities, and health care administration or designee;
(2) the commissioner of health or designee;
(3) the commissioner of education or designee;
(4) the commissioner of mental health or designee;
(5) the commissioner for children and families or designee;
(6) the commissioner of disabilities, aging, and independent living or designee;

A favorable vote on the Senate floor would be in approval of this recommended amendment.

For more information:
Vermont S. 262

Vermont legislature page at Vermont Public Radio

The State of Vermont Legislature

Autism Votes - Vermont
[current page does not reflect the recommended amendment by the Committee on Finance]

Report to the Legislature to Address Services for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
January 2008
Recommendation for specification of competencies of behavior analysis service providers referenced on page 23 , and insurance coverage referenced on pages 1,5,31, 32, 34 -34

© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
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