Florida Senate - 2009                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 242
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Barcode 868330                          
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: FAV            .                                
                  03/11/2009           .                                
                                       .                                
                                       .                                
                                       .                                
       —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————




       —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
       The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs (Justice)
       recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Section 381.986, Florida Statutes, is created to
    6  read:
    7         381.986 Screening, evaluation of, or diagnosis for autism
    8  spectrum disorder.—
    9         (1) If the parent or legal guardian of a minor who is an
   10  eligible individual, as defined in s. 627.6686 or s. 641.31098,
   11  believes that the minor exhibits symptoms of autism spectrum
   12  disorder, the parent or legal guardian may report his or her
   13  observation to a physician licensed in this state. The physician
   14  shall immediately refer the minor to an appropriate specialist
   15  for screening, evaluation of, or diagnosis for autism spectrum
   16  disorder.
   17         (2) As used in this section, the term “appropriate
   18  specialist” means a qualified professional who is experienced in
   19  the evaluation of autism spectrum disorder, who has training in
   20  validated diagnostic tools, and includes, but is not limited to,
   21  a person who is licensed in this state as:
   22         1. A board-certified behavior analyst;
   23         2. A psychologist;
   24         3. A psychiatrist;
   25         4. A neurologist;
   26         5. A developmental or behavioral pediatrician and who
   27  specializes in child neurology;
   28         6. A speech language pathologist; or
   29         7. A licensed professional deemed appropriate by the
   30  Children’s Medical Services Early Steps Program within the
   31  Department of Health.
   32         Section 2. Subsection (11) is added to section 627.6686,
   33  Florida Statutes, to read:
   34         627.6686 Coverage for individuals with autism spectrum
   35  disorder required; exception.—
   36         (11) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the
   37  contrary, an insurer shall provide direct patient access for
   38  screening, evaluation of, or diagnosis for autism spectrum
   39  disorder to an appropriate specialist. As used in this
   40  subsection, the term “direct patient access” means the ability
   41  of a subscriber or insured to obtain services without a referral
   42  or other authorization before receiving services.
   43         Section 3. Subsection (10) is added to section 641.31098,
   44  Florida Statutes, to read:
   45         641.31098 Coverage for individuals with developmental
   46  disabilities.—
   47         (10) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the
   48  contrary, a health maintenance organization shall provide direct
   49  patient access for screening, evaluation of, or diagnosis for
   50  autism spectrum disorder to an appropriate specialist. As used
   51  in this subsection, the term “direct patient access” means the
   52  ability of a subscriber or insured to obtain services without a
   53  referral or other authorization before receiving services.
   54         Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.
   55  
   56  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
   57         And the title is amended as follows:
   58         Delete everything before the enacting clause
   59  and insert:
   60                        A bill to be entitled                      
   61         An act relating to autism; creating s. 381.986, F.S.;
   62         requiring that a physician refer a minor to an
   63         appropriate specialist for screening for autism
   64         spectrum disorder under certain circumstances;
   65         providing a definition; amending ss. 627.6686 and
   66         641.31098, F.S.; requiring certain insurers and health
   67         maintenance organizations to provide direct patient
   68         access to an appropriate specialist for screening,
   69         evaluation of, or diagnosis for autism spectrum
   70         disorder; defining the term “direct patient access”;
   71         providing an effective date.