Senate Bill sb0084
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2003 SB 84
By Senator Geller
31-71-03
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; making
15 a legislative finding that the act fulfills an
16 important state interest; providing an
17 effective date.
18
19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21 Section 1. Health insurance coverage for autism
22 spectrum disorder.--
23 (1)(a) As used in this section, the term "autism
24 spectrum disorder" means a neurobiological condition that
25 includes autism, Asperger syndrome, and Rett's syndrome.
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, speech therapy,
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2003 SB 84
31-71-03
1 occupational therapy, physical therapy, intensive early
2 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. The Legislature finds that the provisions
17 of this act fulfill an important state interest.
18 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.
19
20 *****************************************
21 SENATE SUMMARY
22 Requires that a health insurer or health maintenance
organization include coverage for autism spectrum
23 disorder as part of the coverage for major medical
expenses. Requires that such coverage include coverage
24 for certain types of evaluations and interventions.
Provides that the insurer or health maintenance
25 organization may confirm a diagnosis or review the
appropriateness of treatment. Provides that the act does
26 not affect the scope of a health care professional's
licensure or impair a health care provider's right to
27 reimbursement.
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29
30
31
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.