Missouri Autism Legislative Overview

April 1, 2008

In Jefferson City, it has been a very busy session for appropriations and legislation involving autism. The Missouri State Legislature is primarily focused on the state budget this session.  The House finished its work on all the appropriations bills before the spring recess.  The entire budget package has been sent to the Senate to the Appropriations Committee. The largest ever increase in autism funding was proposed in the Dept. of Mental Health budget.  This is attracting some attention, but relatively speaking, it is “small potatoes” when compared to the overall DMH budget and the entire state budget.

LEGISLATION:  Autism is certain starting to show up on the radar of many legislators, but we are still considered “new-comers” to the political scene.  The Missouri Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism, which concluded and filed its report in late 2007, seems to have sparked interest in several areas and by a wide variety of legislators.  Currently eleven bills are filed which specifically deal with autism.  That sounds like a record, and it is, but in a stormy sea of over 2,400 bills filed this session, it is easy to lose sight of them.  Not all the bills filed are a direct recommendation of the Blue Ribbon Panel, but many are related.  The bills involving mainly fall into three categories:  State systems/structures, insurance reform, and education.  Some bills are non-controversial, such as the bills that would establish the Missouri Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Office of Autism Services in DMH.

INSURANCE:  The bills related to insurance coverage are similar to legislative efforts in many other states across the nation, but aren’t gathering any wide-spread attention in our capitol this session.  All of these would require (mandate) insurers to pay for autism-related health services prescribed by a physician, including ABA.   The details in the various bills differ slightly, but it is the concept that is a new issue, and thus a difficult sell. SB 1122 completed its hearing on April 1 without any fanfare.   The insurance industry predictably opposed this bill, as they will any type of such a bill, but not to just single out autism… they categorically oppose ANY insurance mandate.  Missouri does have other insurance mandates in use, but Missouri is not considered a “mandate-friendly” state.

EDUCATION:  The bills attracting the most attention by far (i.e. most controversial!) this session have been the bills filed relating to scholarships through tax credits/vouchers for special needs students. The senate took this issue up for lively debate last week.  The lines are clearly drawn:  the “school choice”/private school crowd vs. the public school education crowd.  While this hotly-debated issue is IN THEORY about special needs students, the reality is that it is an issue over using any state funds (or perceived use of state funds through tax credits) in a private school. 

While it is very unlikely that the majority of the bills relating to autism will actually get to the floor for a final vote, many legislators are increasingly taking notice and an interest in autism issues.  BUT …there still is a LONG way to go in helping educate them about the autism community in Missouri and their diverse needs. 

Written by G. K. Luetkemeyer ,  An “Autism Mom” at the Capitol
(I’m not a lobbyist, but I stop by the capitol between groceries, laundry, and kids!)
   

All bills can be tracked through the official websites for the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate.

Missouri Senate

Missouri House of Representatives

Pending Autism legislation:

SB 768  Creates Missouri Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders 

SB 1127  Establishes the Office of Autism Services   

HB 2075  Establishes the Missouri Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders      (Same as SB 768)   

Pending Insurance Bills Filed:

SB 1122  Mandates insurance coverage for the treatment of autism under certain conditions

SB 1229  Requires certain health carriers to provide insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder under certain conditions

HB 1753  Requires health benefit plans to include coverage for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders

HB 2265  Requires health benefit plans to include coverage for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders   

HB 2351  Requires certain health carriers to provide insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder under certain conditions  (Similar to SB 1229)

Pending Education Bills Filed:

SB 770  Creates the Missouri Scholarship for Students with Developmental Disabilities Program

SB 993  Creates the Missouri Special Needs Scholarship Tax Credit Program

HB 1886  Establishes Bryce's Law which authorizes a tax credit for individuals who donate to a scholarship-granting organization if the donation is not claimed on their federal income tax return

HB 2304 Amends laws relating to children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder   

HB 2376  Amends laws relating to children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder   (Same as HB 2304) 

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