Texas House Bill HB3276

Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Caption

Relating to the coverage by certain health benefit plans for the screening and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.

Impact

The enactment of HB 3276 will significantly impact the existing statutes related to healthcare coverage in Texas. By specifying the provisions for autism coverage, this legislation aligns insurance practices with a growing recognition of the importance of early diagnosis and ongoing treatment for autism. As a result, many families with autistic children will find greater financial support for necessary therapies that are often critical for development. This change is expected to help reduce the financial burden on parents and increase accessibility to important medical services for children in need.

Summary

House Bill 3276 aims to enhance healthcare coverage for the screening and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. The bill mandates that health benefit plans provide coverage for screening at the ages of 18 and 24 months. Additionally, it requires coverage for treatment of diagnosed ASD until the child reaches nine years of age, ensuring that children receive necessary therapies without interruption. If treatment is still needed after the age of 9, the bill does not prohibit coverage under specific conditions defined within the sections of the legislation.

Contention

There were some points of contention surrounding the details of coverage for additional therapies and who qualifies as a provider of these services. Legislators debated the extent of treatment options and whether certain therapies should be covered under these plans. While the majority supported the bill, some expressed concerns that it might impose limitations on how treatments were administered or on the types of professionals recognized for providing care. Overall, debates centered on ensuring that the legislation remains inclusive of various treatment methodologies and equitable in its application across different health benefit plans.