The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 150 children has autism.
Currently, no health insurance carrier in Kansas consistently covers the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of autism. Many insurance companies designate autism as a diagnostic exclusion, meaning that any services rendered explicitly for the treatment of autism are not covered by the plan, even if those services would be covered if used to treat a different condition. Enactment of House Bill 2367 (Kate’s Law) would end this discrimination.
Ten other states have passed legislation similar to Kate’s Law. Enacted in 2001, the Indiana Autism Insurance Mandate has been in effect the longest. To date, the health insurance industry (the primary opponent of Kate’s Law) has provided no data to show that the Indiana ruling has had negative effects upon health insurance premiums, the viability of small businesses or the number of uninsured in Indiana.
Kate’s Law is fiscally sound for the state of Kansas and critical to the well-being of our children with autism and their families. I urge our state legislature to support Kate’s Law.
Michael Wasmer
Olathe
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