Michigan House committee votes to require better insurance coverage of autism

From The AP:

LANSING, Mich. -- A Michigan House committee has voted to require better insurance coverage for autistic children.

Legislation approved 19-0 June 9 by the House Health Policy Committee next heads to the Democratic-led House.

Parents, school officials and other advocates say it's unfair insurers don't cover more intensive behavioral therapies for autism. Autism hinders a person's ability to communicate and interact with others.

Opponents of the bills worry about the cost of mandating expensive treatments, while others say autism shouldn't be singled out for attention when other disorders deserve equal insurance coverage.

Autism has been diagnosed in about one out of every 150 U.S. children.

The legislation will face opposition in the Republican-led Senate.