Track legislation
It’s crunch time in Georgia’s General Assembly, with only six working days left in the legislative session. To see where particular bills and resolutions stand, check out The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Legislative Navigator at http://legislativenavigator.myajc.com/.
A years-long effort in Georgia to mandate insurance coverage for young children with autism hit a major setback Monday, when the chairman of a key House committee disclosed he doesn’t plan to bring it up for a vote.
State Rep. Richard Smith, R-Columbus, chairman of the House Insurance Committee, cited an issue of fairness, pointing out how Senate Bill 1 would apply to small businesses but not large companies that self-insure employees’ coverage. SB 1 passed the Senate in January and is now pending in Smith’s committee.
Smith also referred to concerns recently raised by Gov. Nathan Deal, who said the measure wouldn’t go far enough because it wouldn’t apply to most families. That’s a debate that can only be settled by federal lawmakers, he said.
“The frustrating thing about the autism debate is that we only have jurisdiction pretty much over small employers in this state, those who do not qualify under the federal” Employee Retirement Income Security Act plans, Deal told reporters. “Those are controlled by the dictates of Congress. The question that none of y’all seem to be asking is why are we not seeing pressure on Congress to include autism as a mandated coverage benefit?”
Smith discussed his position in a brief interview after holding an hourlong hearing on the legislation. Parents of children with autism and several state lawmakers spoke in favor of the bill.
“It is a big step, it is a right step, and I believe it should be the next step in Georgia,” the bill’s sponsor — Sen. Charlie Bethel, R-Dalton — said about SB 1. He added that autism is “a public health crisis which is unfolding in and around all of our communities on a daily basis.”
Representatives from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business and the Georgia Association of Health Plans raised concerns about the legislation.
“There is a cost to this,” said Kyle Jackson, the Georgia director for the NFIB. “And at some point small employers will be forced to make the decision — and some have — to drop their coverage all together.”
About the Author
