Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 080283

Printable PDF Format

Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 080283

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-247-08

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: COVERAGE FOR TREATMENTS FOR AUTISM

Introduced: 1/29/2008

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 3/4/2008

Agenda Date: 3/4/2008

Agenda Item Number: 11A10

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PASS LEGISLATION REQUIRING COVERAGE FOR TREATMENTS FOR AUTISM UNDER HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES

Indexes:

LEGISLATURE

Sponsors:	Sally A. Heyman, Prime Sponsor
	Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Co-Sponsor
	Carlos A. Gimenez, Co-Sponsor
	Joe A. Martinez, Co-Sponsor
	Katy Sorenson, Co-Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
	Sen. Javier D. Souto, Co-Sponsor
	Bruno A. Barreiro, Co-Sponsor
	Audrey M. Edmonson, Co-Sponsor
	Dennis C. Moss, Co-Sponsor
	Dorrin D. Rolle, Co-Sponsor
	Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	3/4/2008	11A10	Adopted				P

Budget and Finance Committee	2/12/2008	2H	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Jess McCarty read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. It was moved by Commissioner Sosa that this proposed resolution be forwarded to the County Commission with a favorable recommendation. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Gimenez. Commissioners Souto, Gimenez, Diaz, Sosa, and Chairman Martinez asked that they be listed as co-sponsors. Hearing no other questions or comments, the Committee proceeded to vote.

County Attorney	1/29/2008		Assigned	Jess M. McCarty

County Attorney	1/29/2008		Referred	Budget and Finance Committee	2/12/2008

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PASS LEGISLATION REQUIRING COVERAGE FOR TREATMENTS FOR AUTISM UNDER HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES

BODY
WHEREAS, autism is a brain-development disorder that impedes normal social and communication skills; and
WHEREAS, the Autism Society of America estimates that autism occurs in 1 of 250 births; and
WHEREAS, the signs of autism usually appear in the form of developmental delays before a child turns 3 years old; and
WHEREAS, there is a broad spectrum of autism patients, and in severe cases or without early treatment, autistic children run the risk spending their adult lives institutionalized; and
WHEREAS, many insurance carriers specifically exclude autism spectrum disorder from being covered for speech, language and occupational therapy, even though the defining symptoms of autism are neurologically-based communication, movement, and sensory integration problems; and
WHEREAS, 17 states have insurance laws relating autism, including 10 states that require coverage for autism through laws mandating coverage for mental illness, and six states that have specific laws regarding insurance coverage specifically for autism, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York and Tennessee; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to pass legislation requiring coverage for treatments for autism under health insurance policies.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of the resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation and Senator Steve Geller.
Section 3. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the issue identified in section 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2008 state legislative package.