Governor Gibbons Celebrates Signing of AB 162
Governor Jim Gibbons celebrated the signing of the autism in insurance reform bill with ASD advocates from the across Nevada on Thursday, June 4.
Ralph Toddre, commissioner of the Nevada Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders, Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons and Lorri Unumb, senior policy advisor for Autism Speaks celebrate the signing of the autism insurance reform bill.
Governor Gibbons Signs AB 162!
At approximately 9:30 am on Friday, May 29, Governor Jim Gibbons signed into law AB 162, the Autism Insurance Reform Bill. It is a great day for all our families living with autism in the state of Nevada.
ACON sends a big thank you to all of the Legislatros and the Governor for making this happen and for believing in our cause and caring for our children. And a very speical thank you to Assemblyman James Ohrenschall for standing with us all the way, and for having the guts to introduce this Bill when 6 months ago we were told "it has no chance"!!! A huge thank you to the incredibel people at Autism Speaks! We really couldn't have done this withouth them. Their expertise, testimony, and incredibel support through it all, made this day possible. And to you parents and families.... THANK YOU!!!
AB162 Summary of Nevada Autism Insurance Reform Bill: Assembly Bill 162 - Sponsored by Assemblyman James Ohrenschall (D-12)Co-sponsors: Assembly - Buckley, Leslie, Woodbury, Conklin, Aizley, Anderson, Arberry, Atkinson, Bobzien, Carpenter, Christensen, Clarborn, Denis, Dondero Loop, Goicoechea, Grady, Hambrick, Hardy, Hogan, Horne, Kihuen, Kirkpatrick, Hardy, Hogan, Mastroluca, McClain, Mortenson, Munford, Oceguera, Parnell, Pierce, Segerblom, Smith and Stewart. Senators: Horsford, Schneider, Lee, Wiener, Townsend, Amodei, Breeden, Care, Carlton, Coffin, Copening, Nolan, Parks, Rhoads and Woodhouse.·
Requires private health insurance companies to provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.· Coverage of treatments will be provided when prescribed for an individual diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder by a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist who determines the care to be medically necessary.· Coverage will be provided to individuals under the age of 18, or through the age of 21 if the individual is enrolled in high school.· Coverage under this bill is subject to a maximum benefit of $36,000 annually for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.·The bill includes coverage of the following treatments when written into a treatment plan: Habilitative or rehabilitative care, Prescription drugs, Psychiatric care, Psychological care, Therapeutic care (Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy), and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and behavioral therapies.· The bill defines "behavioral therapy" as "any interactive therapy derived from evidence-based research, including, without limitation, discrete trial training, early intensive behavioral intervention, intensive intervention programs, pivotal response training and verbal behavior" - The bill applies to small and large group health plans, and State worker Health Plan, governed by state law. Individual plans will have to offer an optional rider for autism coverage.
To read the bill and view its complete history go to:http://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/reports/history.cfm?ID=345
AB359Summary of Bill: This Bill Passed and is NOW LAW !!
Assembly Bill 359 - Sponsored by Assemblywoman Melissa WoodburyCo-sponsors: Hardy , Gansert , Ohrenschall , Aizley , Atkinson , Bobzien , Christensen , Claborn , Denis , Dondero Loop , Goedhart , Goicoechea , Hambrick , Hogan , Kihuen , Kirkpatrick , Manendo , Munford , Oceguera , Pierce , Settelmeyer , Spiegel , Stewart , Breeden , Schneider , Woodhouse ·
The bill requires all children being evaluated at Nevada Early Intervention or its community partners for services be screened for Autism according to the American Pediatrics Association recommendations.·
The bill requires Nevada Early Intervention to notify parents immediately if their child is found to be at risk of autism and refer child for a diagnosis and treatment. ·
The bill requires the staff, who serve children with Autism within the Nevada Early Intervention or its contractors to provide parents with accurate information on autism and evidence-based treatments.·
The bills lays out a foundation of skills paraprofessionals should acquire to work with students with autism.·
The bill requires school district staff to refer to the 2008 Autism Task Force document when designing programs for students with autism.
You can read the bill and its history by going to: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/reports/history.cfm?ID=709 .
AB222 and SB171Summary of Bills:·
The bill continued the funding for the self-directed autism programs serving 121 children. The funding was not put into the Governor’s budget. Which would cause the program to sunset in June, 2009. ·
The original bill only asked for $2 million, advocates testified $3.2 million was needed to serve the children currently on the program, Legislators listened.·
Thanks to the support of the Legislative Leadership, the Joint Finance Committee of Assembly and the Senate voted to support this as an add back and the needed $3.2 million was put back into the budget!!
On December 11th, 2008, the Governor, by Executive Order appointed Ralph Toddre, Jan Crandy, and Mary Liverati to serve on the Nevada Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders. The purpose of this Commission is to oversee that the recommendations of the Nevada Autism Task Force are implemented, as well as to work with State agencies to improve services.
- The bill applies to small and large group health plans, and State worker Health Plan, governed by state law. Individual plans will have to offer an optional rider for autism coverage.
