Eight States Adopt New Legislation Concerning Diagnosis and Treatment of ASD'S

2011 marks a turning point in many areas. Today, Brazil's first female president officially took office. The Oprah Winfrey Show will end its twenty-four year span on daytime television in favor of adopting a cable channel, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and America has a Republican House of Representatives once again. But the new year also marks a turning point in the fight against autism.

Today in an interview with MSNBC Nightly News, Executive Vice President of Programs and Services for Autism Speaks, Peter Bell confirmed that "As of January 1, 2011, eight states have passed new legislation requiring insurance companies to pay for the diagnosis and treatment of autism." Among the eight states are: Kansas, Kentucky, and New Hampshire. This law is not limited exclusively to cases of classical autism, but includes the whole gamut of autism spectrum disorders (ASD'S). To read the full article or see if your state is on the list, go to:http://blog.autismspeaks.org/2010/12/30/tune-in-to-nbc-nightly-news-saturday-january-1/

Many times, families with children with disabilities end up going into debt over their various medical needs, I think that requiring insurance companies to pay for the diagnosis and treatment of ASD's is definitely a step in the right direction.

It's going to take a huge weight off a number of parents' shoulders because they'll no longer have to choose between buying groceries or paying to send their child to social skills group. I hope more states, if not the remaining fifty adopt this legislation in the future. To contact your state legislature regarding autism reform visit:http://www.autismvotes.org/