Politics

House Speaker Open To Vote On Autism Therapy Coverage Bill

January 30th, 2015

A proposal to provide autism treatment coverage for young children was overwhelmingly approved by the Georgia Senate Thursday. Lawmakers voted 54 to 0 for a bill that would require private insurers to give coverage to children with Autism who are six and under.

The legislation could face a tougher road in the House. But Georgia’s House Speaker says he’s open to a vote on the bill.

Last year, a nearly identical bill never even made it to a vote in the House. That’s because a large number of conservative House lawmakers, including Speaker David Ralston were concerned it would be too costly for small businesses. Ralston’s press secretary, Kaleb McMichen, says that still worries the speaker. But he says the speaker won’t stand in the way of it getting to a vote, if he can get more information on how it will affect businesses and premiums.

“Speaker Ralston is mindful this impacts families, just as with the medical cannabis bill, so he certainly is sympathetic to what they’re going through. All the Speaker wants to be able to do is to have the data to make an informed decision.”

And Ralston could soon get some of that data. Right now, state employees enrolled in the state health benefit plan have access to autism treatment for children 10 and under. This week, Governor Deal said before lawmakers make a final decision, he’ll provide them with preliminary data on that coverage.

Deal has not taken a stance on the autism bill. But in his budget for the current year, he included funding for the coverage in the State Health Benefit Plan.