Autism Legislation in CT and VA
July 24, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Today Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell signed House Bill 5696, which requires insurance companies to cover physical, speech and occupational therapies for autism, if their policies cover these treatments for other conditions, and also House Bill 5590, which calls for a statewide plan to teach autistic children. In Virginia, parents are seeking to get House Bill 83—which would mandate insurance coverage for autism—passed, according to WTOP News.
Said Gov. Rell in Norwalk Plus
“As parents we take great joy in our children’s ‘firsts.’ Their first smile. Their first steps. Their first words…..We are also the first to sense a problem. This new law open doors to more treatment – and sooner.”
Having written earlier today about Charlie’s being diagnosed 9 years ago, I’ve been thinking about how one reason that happened was because so many “firsts” just did not occur for Charlie. His education had already started around the time he was diagnosed. He was just turned 2 and while it took awhile for some of those “firsts” to come they did, and they’ve just kept on coming ever since.
