In Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected to sign a bill requiring insurance companies to cover autism diagnosis and treatment up to $36,000 a year until a patient turns 21, today’s Chicago Tribune reports. Sen. Dale Righter (R-Charleston) is arguing that “the measure would cause the number of people diagnosed with autism to grow, therefore increasing premiums for other policy holders”—-an assumption that people are going to get children diagnosed with autism specifically so they can qualify for treatment?
In Oklahoma, a bill to provide insurance coverage for autism diagnosis and treatment has also been introduced in the state Senate, KTEN …read more

Those are the very words that Rep. Ron Peterson (R-Broken Arrow) used to refer to autistic children in a “puff piece” profile distributed by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), according to the May 28th OKC Business.com (the profile can also be read on Nick’s Law and Autism Legislation in Oklahoma). There’s a fight going on in Oklahoma about getting “Nick’s Law”—which would require health insurance policies cover diagnosis, treatment and therapy for autism spectrum disorders — passed. Peterson is quoted as “belittling” treatment for autistic children:
Peterson said in the profile that the treatment that would be covered by …read more