More Ohio children with autism will have access to treatment services under an insurance policy directive Gov. John Kasich announced Friday.
Services including occupational therapy and psychiatric care will be available beginning in 2014 through state employee health insurance, health insurance plans sold on the private market and the forthcoming federally mandated health insurance exchange.
“We know that with early intervention, kids with autism do better at school, they find employment and become more independent and connected adults in our communities,” said Greg Moody, director of Kasich’s office of health transformation.
Autism treatment services already are available to about 40 percent of Ohio children through the state’s Medicaid program. About one in 88 children is diagnosed with autism, a developmental disability, according to the administration.
The Republican governor’s order is part of a requirement that states define an “essential health benefit” package for insurance plans sold on the private market and through the health care exchange mandated by the federal Affordable Care Act.
The services available under Ohio’s benefit package will be similar to those already established in 32 other states, said Ben Kanzeg, the governor’s deputy director of policy, who joined Moody and others on a conference call with reporters to announce the expansion of services.
A group representing Ohio small businesses opposed the policy because it will increase costs.
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