Mar 23 Special Needs Stats and News-Health-care Bill Passes Both Houses

Health-care Reform Bill Passes
 Both Houses in US

Sunday, March 21, the US House of Representatives passed the Senate version of Health-care Reform Bill.

This is welcome news for Autism Support Groups and families affected by autism. After a year of debating, the bill passed 219 to 212.  Once the bill is signed by President Obama, which is expected to happen early this week, the new law will be a great step towards ensuring that all people with autism have access to health-care.

Some of the long awaited provisions for people with autism are:

Parents would receive coverage of “behavioral health treatments” such as ABA therapy.

*Insurers would be prohibited from excluding coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

*Insurers would be prevented from selectively refusing to renew coverage.

*Insurers would no longer be able to charge people different premiums based on their health status, gender or occupation;


*A standardized annual out-of-pocket spending limit would be established so that no family would face bankruptcy due to medical expenses;

*Annual and lifetime benefit caps would be prohibited;

*Mental health would be covered;

*“Habilitative” and “maintenance services” would be covered; and

*Coverage of “behavioral health treatments” such as ABA therapy, would be required.
Will the passage of this bill affect your family in any way?

Related post: Applied Behavior Analysis ~ Maximum Learning Efficientcy