Virginia House approves autism healthcare coverage mandate

By Staff Writer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the lifetime cost to care for an individual who has autism is approximately $3.2 million. However, lawmakers in Virginia are attempting to reduce those expenses for parents.

According to The Associated Press (AP), the Virginia House of Representatives approved legislation on February 2 that would require some employer healthcare plans in the state to cover treatment for autistic children. The mandate, which would provide up to $35,000 in annual benefits for applied behavior analysis treatment, would impact companies that employ more than 50 individuals.

The bill, if approved by the Senate and signed by the governor, would cover only children between the ages of 2 and 6. Furthermore, it lets employers opt out of autism coverage if the medical costs inflate the total expenses of a group plan by 1 percent or more, according to the media outlet.

The AP reports that the bill, which passed in the House 74-24, now advances to the Senate, where similar proposals have gained considerable support in the past.

Considering that the measure does not cover autistic teens, wilderness therapy programs may help these adolescents build stronger social skills.