Editorial, Opinion Piece Weigh In on Autism Coverage Bill
A Los Angeles Times editorial argues that a Legislature-approved bill (SB 946) that would require health insurers to cover applied behavioral analysis treatment for children with autism is a "good policy" that Gov. Jerry Brown (D) "should sign." It adds, "The more children who receive the therapy early, ... the more costs from autism that schools, the state and taxpayers will be able to avoid down the road." Meanwhile, in a Capitol Weekly opinion piece, Patrick Johnston -- CEO and president of the California Association of Health Plans -- writes that the bill "regretfully deserves a veto." He argues that the measure "would impose a costly new mandate for private health insurance to pay for educational non-medical services for children with autism, while exempting the public health programs -- Medi-Cal and Healthy Families -- from the requirement to cover the same therapy." Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program and Healthy Families is California's Children's Health Insurance Program.
- "An Autism Treatment Worth Funding" (Los Angeles Times, 9/30).
- "Opinion: Brown Should Give 'Thumbs Down' on Autism-Linked Education Bill" (Johnston, Capitol Weekly, 9/30).