Mississippi House Bill 720: To Require Insurance Coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorders

January 2009 House Bill 720 requires private health insurance companies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder for children under the age of 21. The annual maximum benefit is $50,000. Coverage includes: diagnosis, habilitative or rehabilitative care, pharmacy care, psychiatric care, psychological care, therapeutic care, and ABA. If approved as proposed, the provisions would take effect October 1, 2009. The bill applies only to fully-funded health plans governed by state and to the state and school employees health insurance plan . . .