LANSING – House Majority Floor Leader Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee) introduced a package of bills Thursday to support the growing number of families struggling to cope with the costs of autism care by requiring health insurance companies to provide coverage for the treatment of the disease.
"While there is no cure for autism, early diagnosis and treatment is vital to increasing the chance that children with autism will reach their full potential," Angerer said. "Unfortunately since most health insurance companies do not cover treatments, children with the disorder either are going without care or it comes with a high price – which can place an unbearable financial burden and immeasurable stress on families. It's time for health insurance companies to step up to the plate and provide coverage for a disorder that affects so many of our children."
Autism, which refers to the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders, is characterized by difficulties with verbal and nonverbal communication, social interaction and repetitive behaviors. The impact ranges from mild to disabling. Autism affects one in 150 children, and the Autism Society of America estimates that the prevalence of autism could reach 4 million Americans in the next decade. Between 2001 and 2006, the number of children in Michigan public schools diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder increased by more than 100 percent, according to the Autism Society of Michigan.
Currently, most health insurance companies cover only screening for the disorder, leaving families with autistic children to bear the high costs of treatment on their own. Treating autism can cost a single family $50,000 or more annually.
"Autism is a serious disease and it's unconscionable that health care companies continue to refuse to cover treatments for children suffering from this debilitating disorder," Angerer said. "Health care companies need to provide care for our children with autism, just as they do for conditions like cancer and diabetes. This plan is about providing equal coverage for our working families and helping our children live healthy, full and meaningful lives."
In addition to requiring health care companies to cover autism treatments, Angerer's package also will create the Autism Research Fund to research the causes and treatments to the disorder, as well as establish a new income tax checkoff box to allow Michigan residents to voluntarily designate a portion of their tax return to the fund.