Measure Providing Insurance Fairness for Children with Autism Goes to Governor

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bipartisan effort has put a bill on Governor Henry’s desk to make certain health insurance companies cover the same illnesses for children with autism as they do children without such a diagnosis.

That assurance is contained in Senate Bill 2045. When the bill was before the Senate, Senator Jay Paul Gumm proposed the language as an amendment, which senators overwhelmingly approved. The amended bill passed both the Senate and House of Representatives and is now on its way to the governor.

“During my work with families who have children with autism, this was one of their highest priorities,” said Gumm, a Democrat from Durant. “We have families who have children with autism who pay their premiums and expect to be treated fairly. This amended bill will ensure that very thing.”

The senator said dozens of families told him some insurance companies routinely deny claims filed on behalf of children with autism for illnesses and maladies unrelated to the diagnosis of autism. Such claims were denied because Oklahoma does not require health insurance policies to cover diagnosis and treatment of autism and most insurers specifically exclude autism.

“For me,” Gumm said, “this issue speaks to the fundamental moral question of ‘fairness.’ Regardless of anyone’s stand on whether insurers should be required to cover diagnosis and treatment of autism, one fundamental fact remains: If a child with autism breaks an arm on the playground or gets sick, they should be covered the same as any other child.”

Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, said his measure began as a stand-alone bill. After discussing the issue with Sen. Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow, and chair of the Senate Committee on Retirement and Insurance, a bipartisan agreement was struck to include the language in one of Brown’s bills.

“I want to express my deep appreciation to both Senator Brown and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee,” Gumm said. “Their support has made it possible to get this legislation through both chambers and to the governor. Families across Oklahoma will benefit because we worked together.

“It shows that we can set aside partisan differences and find that common ground on which we can build a better Oklahoma for all our citizens, and this was a critical step toward fairness for our children and families who are struggling with autism.”

OK Senate backs Insurance Analysis

Coverage mandates are at issue

BY JULIE BISBEE
Published: March 10, 2009
The Oklahoman

Click here to link to the article.

A task force would review coverage requirements placed on insurance companies in Oklahoma under a measure passed by the Senate on Monday."

A task force would review coverage requirements placed on insurance companies in Oklahoma under a measure passed by the Senate on Monday.

Senate Bill 822 would create a panel to review the 36 mandates that require health insurance companies to pay for the treatment of certain ailments. The task force, made up of members of the insurance community, health care providers and private citizens, would evaluate existing mandates and make recommendations on which should be revised or eliminated, according to the bill filed by Sen. Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City.

The bill passed the Senate with a vote along party lines of 25-21. However, the bill does not advance to the House just yet. Both Republican and Democratic members of the Senate asked that it be reconsidered at a later date. All bills must pass out of the Senate by Thursday to be heard in the House.

Discussion about the creation of a task force quickly turned into debate about Nick’s Law, a failed measure to require insurance for autistic children.

Democrats argued the task force would seek to get rid of insurance mandates, including laws that require insurers to cover treatment of serious mental illnesses and breast cancer screenings.

"Mandates exist because people felt like their issues weren’t being addressed,” said Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, who has pushed for autism insurance. "At the end of the day, this is not going to help the people of Oklahoma; it’s going to hurt them. That’s not what I was elected to do.”

Republicans argued that mandates increase the cost of premiums to customers, who sometimes drop coverage because it cost too much. The end result is more people in Oklahoma without coverage.
"Mandates cause premium payers to pay more,” said Sen. Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow.