Crist OKs Mandated Insurance Coverage For Autistic Children

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist signed a bill today that will require insurers to cover costly therapies for thousands of autistic children in Florida.

"Autism is increasing at an alarming rate. Every one out of 150 children have it," Crist said. "Sixty-seven children are diagnosed with autism every single day."

Effective April 1, the bill will require large insurance group polices to cover behavioral therapies for autistic children, up to $36,000 a year, with a lifetime maximum of $200,000.

"It's mandated coverage, and that's exactly what it's intended to be," Crist said.

The bill was among the last to pass the Legislature this spring, ending a feud between the House and Senate over whether to extend coverage to children with other developmental disabilities such as spina bifida and Down syndrome.

The House pushed in the final weeks of the session for the more expansive approach, which the Senate rejected, calling it unstudied and prohibitively expensive.

In the final hours of the final day of the session on May 2, the Senate gave the House an ultimatum, sending the lower chamber the autism-only plan and adjourning. That left the House with the more modest approach as its only option, which it reluctantly approved.

House Speaker Marco Rubio, who is leaving office this year because of term limits, has urged his returning colleagues in the Legislature to expand the initiative next year to other disabled children.

Today, former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, advocate for autistic children and co-chairman of the governor's autism task force, was on hand for the bill signing in Tallahassee.

"It's giving me chills, actually, just thinking about the opportunity this is going to give so many children in Florida," said Marino, who said his 20-year old autistic son, Michael, a college student, is "where he's at today" thanks to early interventional therapies."

Senate Minority Leader Steve Geller, sponsor of the legislation, was scheduled to appear later at a a ceremonial signing of the bill in South Florida.

Crist said he would continue working with lawmakers to expand coverage for the developmentally disabled and called the bill he signed today "a very bold step forward -- it's historic."