House GOP backs pilot program for autism coverage

SALT LAKE CITY — House Republicans are proposing a pilot program they're calling "a Utah solution" to the issue of whether insurance coverage for autism should be mandated.

The program, outlined during Tuesday's House GOP caucus meeting, would serve some 800 autistic children ages 2 to 6 whose parents don't have insurance or are covered by either the Public Employees Health Program or Medicaid.

Autism "has become an important priority for us," said House Majority Assistant Whip Ronda Menlove, R-Garland, calling the new language being drafted for HB272 "a great alternative to a mandate."

Menlove is sponsoring both HB272 and another bill, HB69, that mandates insurance companies cover autism. She said her preference is for the pilot program, acknowledging that lawmakers are feeling pressured to find a way to help families with autistic children.

There's interest from private insurers in helping to pay for the pilot as a way to avoid a mandate, she said. "It's very encouraging."

Just how much the pilot program will cost remains to be seen. Menlove said she wants a total of $6 million from the state for the two-year program. "I'm a person who's going to think big," she said. "But I'm also realistic."

House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, told the majority caucus they'll be asked to approve an as-yet-undetermined amount towards the pilot program. The amount is still being negotiated with private insurers, the governor's office and the Senate, she said.

The revised bill with details of the program and its funding may be heard by the end of the week.

"Here's the deal," the speaker said. "We're going to pay for these kids one way or other," either through funding special education classes or through offering assistance before they reach school age.

"This, I believe, is a good buy for the taxpayer," Lockhart said.

House Majority Whip Greg Hughes, R-Draper, told the caucus he had to be convinced the pilot program was a good idea. "This is not the bleeding heart caucus. That's the Democrats," he said.

But with 29 states already mandating coverage, Hughes said the issue isn't going to go away. "It's easy for us to be magnanimous with other people's money," he said. The pilot program "allows us to do something real."