Colorado families praise bill that requires health insurance to cover autism treatments

From NBC9 TV News:

DENVER - It's cost years of heartache and literally millions of dollars for thousands of families affected by autism. Everything has finally changed.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed Senate Bill 244 into law on June 2. The bill creates a law requires health insurance companies to cover assessment, diagnosis and treatment of autism.

That treatment includes Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). When begun at an early age, ABA can literally save families as much as $2 million over the course of the lifetime of someone with autism. On average, families touched by autism spend close to $3.5 million for treatment when they don't have access to ABA.

Critics had argued that the mandate would lead to fewer Coloradans being able to afford health insurance and to an increase in cost for those who still can. Some lawmakers referred to a study from a non-profit HMO in the San Luis Valley that estimated its consumers could see a $485 per year increase in their premiums as a result of the bill.

"Any decent person feels compassion and respect for the sacrifice of families that are affected by autism, but any thinking person is worried about the consequences of this bill," said Sen. Shawn Mitchell (R-Broomfield). "At a time when families are struggling to be able to afford health insurance, when employers are struggling to be able to provide it, this bill pushes it into new expensive areas."

The Autism Society of Colorado estimates 1 in 169 school-age children in Colorado has autism.

"For children with autism, it can be truly life altering," said Jill Tappert, a parent advocate for Senate Bill 244, which was approved by the Colorado State Senate on April 28th with a 19-16 vote.

"We're talking about taking a child who doesn't understand the concept of communication, or who may not be able to look at their parents face and understand if an environment is safe," said Tappert. "With ABA autism therapy, my child will be able to get a job. She won't be able to live independently, but she won't be in an institution either."

For parents Rick and Michelle Dyson of Boulder, the bill is the next best thing to their greatest wish for their son, Fritz: a medical breakthrough for treating and preventing Autism.

"I feel strongly that for Fritz, the best chance he has to being social and living like a neurologically typical child is the research that's going to break through in the next few years," said Michelle Dyson. "He makes progress, but it's heart-breaking (how slow it is)."

The bill may not provide that medical breakthrough, but for families like the Dysons, the passage of SB 244 is a breakthrough all the same.