Amendment Would Require OHRP Cover Autism

NewsChannel 8 - Amendment Would Require OHRP Cover Autism

Oklahoma City - A state Senate amendment to House Bill 2027 would require a state-run insurance safety net to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism.

The amendment was filed by Durant Senator Jay Paul Gumm, who originally sponsored autism insurance legislation, known as "Nick's Law". It would require the Oklahoma Health Insurance High Risk Pool (OHRP) to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism.

The amendment was attached to a House bill that seeks to train more therapists to evaluate and diagnose the disorder.

The OHRP was created by the state legislature in 1995 to provide access to health insurance coverage to all residents of the state who are unable to obtain individual health insurance.

"The High Risk Pool was designed to be the insurer of last resort," said Gumm. "It seems to be a perfect compromise between those who oppose a mandate on all insurance companies and those of us who support ending insurance discrimination against children with autism."

The bill which included Gumm's amendment, passed the Senate by a unanimous 48-0 vote. It will now go before a conference committee, where a final version of the bill will be developed.