Hawaii Launches Autism Insurance Mandate

On January 1, 2016, Hawaii launched a new autism insurance mandate. The law applies to individual and group insurance plans issued or renewed after January 1, 2016. Coverage for autism services is limited to children under the age of 14 and applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is capped at $25,000 per year. Treatment for autism requires a treatment plan that the insurer can review for medical necessity at their discretion.

Hawaii Act 235, known as Luke’s Law, was enacted in July 2015. The law requires insurers to cover behavioral health treatment, pharmacy care, psychiatric care, psychological care, and therapeutic . . .