Ohio Legislature Passes Autism Insurance Coverage Mandate

On December 8, 2016, the Ohio legislature passed a bill requiring commercial individual and group health plans to cover autism treatment. Ohio House Bill (HB) 463 requires coverage for medically necessary treatments of autism, including applied behavior analysis (ABA) for individuals under the age of 14 years. Ohio Governor John Kasich is expected to sign the bill.

The provisions of HB 463 call for commercial health plans to cover treatment for autism, and includes evidence-based care and related equipment prescribed or ordered for an individual diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder by a licensed physician who is a developmental . . .