Proposed Health Insurance Mandate for Autism Treatment Tabled by Virginia House
By Kevin Leach, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Virginia, families of children with autism had succeeded in getting a new bill into the House that would have required many health insurance providers to cover a treatment called “applied behavioral analysis.” But businesses and insurance companies claimed that the costs of the bill would hurt business interests in the state.
Despite the fact that an actuary who studied the financial implications of the bill reported that it would only increase insurance costs by .2% across the state, the bill did not make it out of the Virginia House Commerce and Labor subcommittee. The families in favor of the bill blamed heavy lobbying by the insurance industry for the failure of the bill to reach the House floor. Legislators pointed out that many businesses are already at the breaking point financially and that adding costs will only make things worse.
Applied behavioral analysis is considered by many autism specialists to be the best hope for autistic children to lead normal lives. But the treatment can cost thirty thousand dollars a year or more; a sum that is out of reach for most middle class families. Virginia is one of thirty five states in the US that do not require insurance companies to pay for the treatment.
Find out more about the failure of the proposed autism insurance mandate in Virginia at Va. Panel Kills Autism Treatment Coverage Mandate.





New Jersey Governor Jim Corzine is considering legislation that would help students with reading disabilities and difficulties with language skills. The legislation would create a reading disabilities task force designed to determine best practices for diagnosing and treating special needs students. The task force would also examine how current state laws and regulations affect theses students.
About eighty five percent of New Jersey Special Education students are considered language deficient. Proponents of the new law say that they do not receive proper lessons to overcome their difficulties. They say that the new law would save costs by eliminating unnecessary expenses for children who do not belong in special education classes and can enter regular classes once their reading skills are improved.
The bill has passed both the New Jersey Assembly and Senate and is being reviewed by the Governor. It is not clear if he will sign it or not. If approved, the bill would create a thirteen member task force which would include the state commissioners of education and human resources, four legislators and seven public citizens.
The ability to read is a critical skill for succeeding in life. Special Needs Children deserve to be given the tools necessary to overcome reading difficulties and be more successful as adults. Find out more about this New Jersey Special Education Law under consideration by visiting 









