Opinion: Brown Should Sign Autism Care Coverage Bill
In a Capitol Weekly opinion piece, Peter Bell -- executive vice president for programs and services at Autism Speaks -- argues that legislation (SB 946) to require health insurers to cover applied behavioral analysis treatment for children with autism "provides a much-needed solution for families and California taxpayers, while shielding insurers from unreasonable financial exposure." Bell writes, "Autism has become a public health crisis and an economic drain on limited state resources, which is why policymakers across the country are listening," adding that for "the thousands of California families struggling to pay for their children's care, SB 946 would be a positive step that is long-overdue." He concludes, "Rather than pit taxpayers against health insurers, Governor Brown (D) needs to do what's right for California's children and sign SB 946."
- "Health Insurers Want Taxpayers To Pick Up the Tab for Autism Care" (Bell, Capitol Weekly, 10/6).