Autism coverage would change with new health bills.
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Autism coverage would change with new health bills.

Date: February 24, 2009
By: Chance Seales
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 569, HB 76, HB 79

Intro: Emotional parents encouraged Missouri lawmakers Tuesday to require new autism coverage. 

Chance Seales (SEALS) reports from the State Capitol.

RunTime:0:40
OutCue: SOC

Missouri children with autism would get more treatments covered by insurance if a group of bills moves through the legislature.

If passed, the bills would also create school programs aimed at identifying and treating autism.

Kelli Maxwell is the mother of an autistic child.

She told the House Health Committee her stack of medical bills has her on the brink of bankruptcy and needs help. 

Actuality:  MAXWL1.WAV
Run Time: 00:08
Description: "If I had an $8,000 deductible versus $30,000 that I had to pay for my son, it would be a no-brainer...no-brainer."

Insurance companies oppose the measures and claim premiums will rise across the board if they pass.    

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Chance Seales.


Intro: Parents urge Missouri lawmakers Tuesday to mandate insurance companies to cover more autism treatments.

Chance Seales (SEALS) reports from Jefferson City.

RunTime:0:44
OutCue: SOC

Several state legislators are trying to change insurance law by requiring companies to cover costs of autism treatments

Missouri families affected by autism say they pay out of their pockets to foot the bill for expensive treatments.  

Republican Representative Chris Molendorp (MOLE-IN-DORP) of Western Missouri opposes requiring more coverage and told the House Health Committee proposed changes could miss the mark.

Actuality:  MOLEN1.WAV
Run Time: 00:09
Description: "We may not be actually helping the families at all.  Because we could be asking them to come up with thousands of dollars for a provider that may not even be in the network yet."

Parents of autistic children said they face financial hardships under current laws and new coverage requirements would be a big help.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Chance Seales.