Senate Bill 0272e1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 272 First Engrossed (ntc)
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.
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19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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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" is 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, such as speech
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
CS for SB 272 First Engrossed (ntc)
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. 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, 1999.
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