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Young children with autism would get insurance coverage under a mandate passed unanimously Thursday by the state Senate, despite warnings it would increase health insurance premiums across Georgia.
The 54-0 vote follows a unanimous vote on similar legislation taken by the chamber last year.
"This is not the first step or the last step, just a right step," said state Sen. Charlie Bethel, R-Dalton, who is sponsoring Senate Bill 1 as chairman of the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee.
SB 1 could reignite one of the most controversial issues from last year's legislative session, when the chamber used a similar proposal as a wedge that eventually sank both it and a popular medical marijuana bill. With the state Legislature starting fresh in the first of a two-year cycle, however, supporters believe they have enough time to find common ground with opponents in the House who say the measure hurts small business owners.
Business advocates and health care insurance groups also oppose the plan, which has been kicked around the Gold Dome since 2009 without passage despite winning Senate support last year.
Although support flared noticeably last year, hundreds of advocates have spent at least six years pushing for autism coverage, many of them inspired by a young Georgia girl named Ava Bullard who has inspired the Senate to give SB 1 the nickname of “Ava’s Law.” Ava, now 10, began applied behavioral therapy for autism at age 3 and now functions well.
During his statement of support on Thursday, her great-uncle, state Sen. Tommie Williams, R-Lyons, played a recording for his Senate colleagues of Ava saying a prayer for her mother and primary caretaker. “Lord light up the path, show my mama where to go,” she said.
Bethel estimated the measure would raise premiums about $4 a year.
Previous efforts to mandate the coverage were broad but, starting last year, senators narrowed its reach in an effort to win passage. Those limits remain: SB 1 among other things would apply only to children 6 years and younger; annual payouts would be limited to $35,000; and businesses with 10 or fewer employees would be exempt.
The bill would exempt insurers from having to cover autism if they could verify it would raise all premiums by more than 1 percent. The bill would also not apply to large companies that self-insure employees' coverage — although many of them, including Home Depot and Georgia Power's parent, the Southern Co., already provide something similar. About one out of every 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Thirty-eight states, including Florida and South Carolina, require coverage of autism, including behavioral health treatment sought by parents here. Opponents, however, include powerful groups such as the Georgia Chamber.
“Ten years ago probably not a single state had this kind of legislation,” said professor Daniel Crimmins, director of the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University. “I think this trend of states coming on board is recognition that this is important to children and important to families. I don’t think it would have been added in this many states if it were unduly prohibitive. You don’t bring it on if it’s an undue economic burden.”
Parents of autistic children said they remained hopeful. Another high-profile effort to help children — legalizing a limited form of medical marijuana to help treat severe seizure disorders — is the House’s top priority this year. Parents said that’s enough common ground to help families on both issues.
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