Bill Text: CT SB00974 | 2011 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Group Health Insurance Coverage For An Alternative Therapy In The Treatment Of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-18 - Public Hearing 02/24 [SB00974 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2011-SB00974-Introduced.html
General Assembly |
Raised Bill No. 974 | ||
January Session, 2011 |
LCO No. 3037 | ||
*03037_______INS* | |||
Referred to Committee on Insurance and Real Estate |
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Introduced by: |
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(INS) |
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AN ACT CONCERNING GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR AN ALTERNATIVE THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 38a-514b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2012):
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Applied behavior analysis" means the design, implementation and evaluation of environmental modifications, using behavioral stimuli and consequences, including the use of direct observation, measurement and functional analysis of the relationship between environment and behavior, to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior.
(2) "Autism services provider" means any person, entity or group that provides treatment for autism spectrum disorders pursuant to this section.
(3) "Autism spectrum disorders" means the pervasive developmental disorders set forth in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders", including, but not limited to, Autistic Disorder, Rett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.
(4) "Behavioral therapy" means any interactive behavioral therapies derived from evidence-based research, including, but not limited to, applied behavior analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, or other therapies supported by empirical evidence of the effective treatment of individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, that are: (A) Provided to children less than fifteen years of age; [,] and (B) provided or supervised by (i) a behavior analyst who is certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, (ii) a licensed physician, or (iii) a licensed psychologist. For the purposes of this subdivision, behavioral therapy is "supervised by" such behavior analyst, licensed physician or licensed psychologist when such supervision entails at least one hour of face-to-face supervision of the autism services provider by such behavior analyst, licensed physician or licensed psychologist for each ten hours of behavioral therapy provided by the supervised provider.
(5) "Developmental/relationship-based therapy" means a therapy for individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, that: (A) Is provided to children less than fifteen years of age; (B) uses the parent-child or caregiver-child relationship as the means to remediate core deficits of autism spectrum disorders, including, but not limited to, lack of (i) interpersonal focal attention, (ii) social communication, (iii) empathy, (iv) emotional regulation, (v) self-awareness, (vi) flexible thinking, and (vii) adaptability to change; (C) uses persons (i) certified as consultants in such therapy, or (ii) training to be certified as consultants in such therapy, provided such persons are supervised by a certified consultant set forth in subparagraph (C)(i) of this subdivision, to systematically train parents or caregivers to plan interactions, interact and communicate with such children; and (D) includes a curriculum of developmentally staged objectives that target core deficit areas of autism spectrum disorders. For the purposes of this subdivision, developmental/relationship-based therapy is supervised by a certified consultant when such supervision entails at least one hour of face-to-face supervision of a person training to be certified as a consultant by such certified consultant for each ten hours of developmental/relationship-based therapy provided by such person.
[(5)] (6) "Diagnosis" means the medically necessary assessment, evaluation or testing performed by a licensed physician, licensed psychologist or licensed clinical social worker to determine if an individual has an autism spectrum disorder.
(b) Each group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 that is delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state shall provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. For the purposes of this section and section 38a-513c, an autism spectrum disorder shall be considered an illness.
(c) (1) Such policy shall provide coverage for the [following] treatments [, provided such treatments are (1) medically necessary, and (2) identified and ordered by a licensed physician, licensed psychologist or licensed clinical social worker for an insured who is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, in accordance with a treatment plan developed by a licensed physician, licensed psychologist or licensed clinical social worker pursuant to a comprehensive evaluation or reevaluation of the insured:] set forth in subsection (d) of this section as one option for covered benefits and the treatments set forth in subsection (e) of this section as an alternative option for covered benefits.
(2) Prior to commencing a treatment plan, the insured, in consultation with a licensed physician, licensed psychologist or licensed clinical social worker, shall elect (A) the option for covered benefits set forth in subsection (d) of this section, (B) the option for covered benefits set forth in subsection (e) of this section, or (C) both options for the first year and one option for subsequent years in accordance with subsection (f) of this section. The total coverage for both therapy treatments in the first year shall not exceed the applicable limit set forth in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section.
(d) (1) The following treatments shall be medically necessary, and identified and ordered by a licensed physician, licensed psychologist or licensed clinical social worker for an insured who is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, in accordance with a treatment plan developed by a licensed physician, licensed psychologist or licensed clinical social worker pursuant to a comprehensive evaluation or reevaluation of the insured:
(A) Behavioral therapy;
(B) Prescription drugs, to the extent prescription drugs are a covered benefit for other diseases and conditions under such policy, prescribed by a licensed physician, licensed physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse for the treatment of symptoms and comorbidities of autism spectrum disorders;
(C) Direct psychiatric or consultative services provided by a licensed psychiatrist;
(D) Direct psychological or consultative services provided by a licensed psychologist;
(E) Physical therapy provided by a licensed physical therapist;
(F) Speech and language pathology services provided by a licensed speech and language pathologist; and
(G) Occupational therapy provided by a licensed occupational therapist.
[(d)] (2) Such policy may limit the coverage for behavioral therapy to a yearly benefit of fifty thousand dollars for a child who is less than nine years of age, thirty-five thousand dollars for a child who is at least nine years of age and less than thirteen years of age and twenty-five thousand dollars for a child who is at least thirteen years of age and less than fifteen years of age.
(e) As an alternative option to the treatments set forth in subsection (d) of this section for covered benefits, an insured may elect the treatments set forth in this subsection.
(1) The following treatments shall be medically necessary, and identified and ordered by a licensed physician, licensed psychologist or licensed clinical social worker for an insured who is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, in accordance with a treatment plan developed by a licensed physician, licensed psychologist or licensed clinical social worker pursuant to a comprehensive evaluation or reevaluation of the insured:
(A) Developmental/relationship-based therapy;
(B) Prescription drugs, to the extent prescription drugs are a covered benefit for other diseases and conditions under such policy, prescribed by a licensed physician, licensed physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse for the treatment of symptoms and comorbidities of autism spectrum disorders;
(C) Direct psychiatric or consultative services provided by a licensed psychiatrist;
(D) Direct psychological or consultative services provided by a licensed psychologist;
(E) Physical therapy provided by a licensed physical therapist;
(F) Speech and language pathology services provided by a licensed speech and language pathologist; and
(G) Occupational therapy provided by a licensed occupational therapist.
(2) Coverage for developmental/relationship-based therapy shall not exceed five years' duration. Such policy may limit the coverage for developmental/relationship-based therapy to a yearly benefit of ten thousand dollars for the first year, eight thousand dollars for the second year, six thousand dollars for the third year, four thousand dollars for the fourth year and four thousand dollars for the fifth year.
(f) If an insured elects the option for covered benefits set forth in subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section, such insured shall, prior to commencing the second year of the treatment plan and in consultation with a licensed physician, licensed psychologist or licensed clinical social worker, elect either the option for covered benefits set forth in (1) subsection (d) of this section, or (2) subsection (e) of this section. The insured shall make such election only once and in accordance with this subsection.
[(e) Such] (g) No policy providing coverage as set forth in subsection (b) of this section shall [not] impose (1) any limits on the number of visits an insured may make to an autism services provider pursuant to a treatment plan on any basis other than a lack of medical necessity, or (2) a coinsurance, copayment, deductible or other out-of-pocket expense for such coverage that places a greater financial burden on an insured for access to the diagnosis and treatment of an autism spectrum disorder than for the diagnosis and treatment of any other medical, surgical or physical health condition under such policy.
[(f)] (h) (1) Except for treatments and services received by an insured in an inpatient setting, an insurer, health care center, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation or fraternal benefit society may review a treatment plan developed as set forth in subdivision (1) of subsection [(c)] (d) of this section or subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of this section for such insured, in accordance with its utilization review requirements, not more than once every six months unless such insured's licensed physician, licensed psychologist or licensed clinical social worker agrees that a more frequent review is necessary or changes such insured's treatment plan.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the results of a diagnosis shall be valid for a period of not less than twelve months, unless such insured's licensed physician, licensed psychologist or licensed clinical social worker determines a shorter period is appropriate or changes the results of such insured's diagnosis.
[(g)] (i) Coverage required under this section may be subject to the other general exclusions and limitations of the group health insurance policy, including, but not limited to, coordination of benefits, participating provider requirements, restrictions on services provided by family or household members and case management provisions, except that any utilization review shall be performed in accordance with subsection [(f)] (h) of this section.
[(h)] (j) (1) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or affect (A) any other covered benefits available to an insured under (i) such group health insurance policy, (ii) section 38a-514, or (iii) section 38a-516a, (B) any obligation to provide services to an individual under an individualized education program pursuant to section 10-76d, or (C) any obligation imposed on a public school by the Individual With Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1400 et seq., as amended from time to time.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require such group health insurance policy to provide reimbursement for special education and related services provided to an insured pursuant to section 10-76d, unless otherwise required by state or federal law.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
January 1, 2012 |
38a-514b |
Statement of Purpose:
To provide group health insurance coverage for an alternative therapy for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]