Nixon signs autism bill in Kansas City Missouri

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Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon signed a bill into law Friday mandating insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders at a ceremony in Kansas City.

Nixon’s signature caps a three-year effort by the governor, lawmakers and families affected by autism to secure the mandate, which will apply to state-regulated insurance plans.

“Because of this legislation, thousands of families in Missouri will no longer face the agonizing decision to sacrifice their financial well-being in order to get this vital treatment for their child,” said Nixon, a Democrat.

The law will go into effect Jan. 1. The mandate will cover behavioral therapies for autistic children, up to $40,000 a year through age 18

"Behavioral therapies"?

It sounded like a fine idea right up till that point. But now I'm wondering if we won't see scenarios play out where parents think... well, our insurance will pay to send him to the JRC, but it won't pay for OT and this nice private school with small classes and loving teachers...

Realistically, there a few behavioral therapies which are JRC-like torture methods, which actually work in some cases. Of course, it's always going to be harder to get an insurance corporation to believe that a better environment is a treatment, as opposed to the magic pills the doctor gave you.