Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton has proposed that insurers in Florida and in other states should be required to cover autism treatment.
“A major challenge for many families impacted by autism is the often unaffordable cost of treatment,” the Democrat candidate said in a statement provided to the
Tampa Bay Times. “While most states require private health insurance plans in their state-based exchange to cover the autism services, Florida does not.”
Clinton’s statement cited statistics that reveal that in Florida alone, 28,064 children between the ages of 3 and 21 have autism.
Aside from making autism treatment coverage obligatory among insurers, Clinton’s proposal also calls for several other elements, including:
- A nationwide early screen outreach campaign to ensure that all children—regardless of economic background—can get screened for autism.
- An “Autism Works Initiative” to secure post-graduation transition plans for students with autism.
- A “Keeping All Students Safe Act” to protect children with autism from abusive treatment in their schools.
- Coordination between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Internal Revenue Service to administer and sustain mental health parity to their full authority in their respective fields in any states that fail to observe such.
While Clinton’s plan affects most insurers, those in Florida’s state exchange under the Affordable Care Act are exempt. Clinton’s campaign hopes that the coverage becomes a requirement for all plans offered in ACA-affiliated health insurance exchanges across 30 states, such as Florida.
