Autism bill watered down by Senate amendment

A bill requiring health insurance companies to provide coverage for the treatment of autism was watered down in the Senate Thursday in an attempt to gain broader support for the measure.

As amended, SB43, sponsored by Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, will no longer slap a mandate on insurance companies, but will now provide what Stephenson called a "mandated option." Coverage will be available to employers as part of a company's health-care plan if it chooses it for its employees.

"This won't leave coverage out entirely if the employer chooses it," Stephenson said.

The amendment also reduced the required minimum coverage amounts from $50,000 to $36,000 annually for a child younger than 9 years old and from $25,000 to $17,500 per year for a child between the ages of 9 and 17.

Stephenson called his amendment "autism light" and said it was intended to bring the proposal "in sync with what we are doing as a legislative body." He said his hope is that, as health-care reform moves through the Legislature, he will be able to move the choice down to the employee level.

Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, said the amendment removed most of the concerns he initially had with the proposal.

"I'm afraid I'll have to vote for his bill," Jenkins said.

— David Servatius