NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A595
SPONSOR: Abinanti (MS)
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to coverage for the
screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To delete the provision that therapeutic care will only be covered in
the event that the policy provides coverage for therapeutic care.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends insurance law section 3216 (i) (25) (C)
(ix) (5), as amended by chapter 596 of the laws of 2011, to delete the
provision that therapeutic care will only be covered in the event that
the policy provides coverage for therapeutic care.
Section 2 amends insurance law section 3221 (1) (17) (C)(ix) (5), as
amended by chapter 596 of the laws of 2011, to delete the aforementioned
provision.
Section 3 amends insurance law section 4303 (ee) (3)(I) (v), as amended
by chapter 596 of the laws of 2011, to delete the aforementioned
provision.
Section 4 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Autism is the fastest growing disabling disorder affecting American
children. Research demonstrates that early diagnosis and treatment of
autism spectrum disorders is essential and should be provided as soon as
possible without interruption. Delay or interruption of treatment may
cause irreversible affects. This legislation will relieve families from
the burden of the high cost of therapeutic care, including therapeutic
care which is deemed habilitative or non-restorative, as prescribed by a
licensed physician or psychologist for the treatment of autism spectrum
disorder.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2011-12: A9013 referred to Insurance;
2013-14: A536 referred to Insurance
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The cost implications have not been fully determined. The treatment of
autism spectrum disorders will result in better long-term health
outcomes for those diagnosed with this condition and should therefore
lessen costs which are borne by taxpayers.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
595
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 7, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI, TITONE, COOK, ENGLEBRIGHT, ROBINSON,
BENEDETTO, STIRPE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CROUCH, FINCH,
GRAF, HOOPER, KATZ, McDONOUGH, MOYA, RAIA, THIELE -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to coverage for the
screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subclause 5 of clause (ix) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph
2 25 of subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law, as amended by
3 chapter 596 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
4 (5) therapeutic care, including therapeutic care which is deemed habi-
5 litative or nonrestorative[, in the event that the policy provides
6 coverage for therapeutic care]; and
7 § 2. Subclause 5 of clause (ix) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph 17
8 of subsection (1) of section 3221 of the insurance law, as amended by
9 chapter 596 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
10 (5) therapeutic care, including therapeutic care which is deemed habi-
11 litative or nonrestorative[, in the event that the policy provides
12 coverage for therapeutic care]; and
13 § 3. Clause (v) of subparagraph (I) of paragraph 3 of subsection (ee)
14 of section 4303 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 596 of the
15 laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
16 (v) therapeutic care, including therapeutic care which is deemed habi-
17 litative or nonrestorative[, in the event that the policy provides
18 coverage for therapeutic care]; and
19 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04351-01-5