House Bill 0207
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HB 207
By Representative Crow
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to health insurance coverage
3 for autism spectrum disorder; requiring a
4 health insurer or health maintenance
5 organization that offers major medical coverage
6 to include coverage for treating autism
7 spectrum disorder; defining the term "autism
8 spectrum disorder"; authorizing an insurer or
9 health maintenance organization to confirm a
10 diagnosis or review the appropriateness of a
11 treatment plan; providing that the act does not
12 affect the licensure of a health care
13 professional or impair the right to
14 reimbursement of a health care provider;
15 providing an effective date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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19 Section 1. Health insurance coverage for autism
20 spectrum disorder.--
21 (1)(a) As used in this section, the term "autism
22 spectrum disorder" is a neurobiological condition that
23 includes autism, Asperger syndrome, Rett's syndrome, or
24 pervasive developmental disorder, as those disorders occur in
25 various degrees of severity.
26 (b) Any health insurer or health maintenance
27 organization that issues major medical expense coverage in
28 this state may not exclude coverage prescribed by the
29 referring physician for the treatment of autism spectrum
30 disorder, including, but not limited to, coverage for
31 therapeutic evaluations and interventions, such as speech
1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HB 207
568-153-99
1 therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, intensive
2 early intervention, applied behavioral analysis, and Lovaas
3 behavioral therapy.
4 (2) Coverage for autism spectrum disorder is subject
5 to the same terms and conditions that the insurer or health
6 maintenance organization applies to the treatment of other
7 disorders. However, an insurer or health maintenance
8 organization may confirm a diagnosis or review the
9 appropriateness of a specific treatment plan in order to
10 ensure that coverage under this section is limited to
11 diagnostic and treatment services.
12 (3) This section does not affect the scope of
13 licensure of any health care professional and does not impair
14 any right to reimbursement which is otherwise guaranteed to a
15 health care provider.
16 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 1999.
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19 SENATE SUMMARY
20 Requires that a health insurer or health maintenance
organization include coverage for autism spectrum
21 disorder as part of the coverage for major medical
expenses. Requires that such coverage include coverage
22 for certain types of evaluations and interventions.
Provides that the insurer or health maintenance
23 organization may confirm a diagnosis or review the
appropriateness of treatment. Provides that the act does
24 not affect the scope of a health care professional's
licensure or impair a health care provider's right to
25 reimbursement.
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