Mo. Senate OKs Autism Coverage Requirement
The Missouri Senate has voted 26-6 to require some health insurance plans to cover treatment for autism.
The bill would require group insurance policies regulated by the state to provide up to $55,000 annually for behavioral treatment until age 21. The "applied behavioral analysis" is an intensive and costly therapy that some parents say produces dramatic improvements in their autistic children.
The Senate version of the bill now goes to the House.
Similar legislation approved in the House in February would require coverage of up to $36,000 annually until age 18.
The two chambers must agree on the same version before the measure can go to Gov. Jay Nixon.