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Committee backs bill removing age limit on mandated autism insurance coverage
Summary
SB 756 eliminates the statutory age-8 diagnosis requirement and removes the age cap for mandated coverage for autism-related services; sponsors and disability advocates said the change will help lifelong care, and the committee adopted an amendment making the effective date align with new insurance plan years.
Senate Bill 756 was reported favorably with committee substitute after sponsors and disability advocates told the committee the bill removes outdated age limits for autism diagnosis and mandated coverage.
Senator Burton explained the measure repeals the statutory requirement that a child be diagnosed with autism by age 8 and repeals the limit that mandated coverage end at age 18 (or upon leaving high school). The bill also synchronizes the statutory definition with the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and, because the autism language sits in a broader statutory section, the bill likewise repeals age caps related to Down syndrome that appear in the same section. The sponsor said those age limits penalize families whose children are diagnosed later and that keeping coverage available beyond age 18 will reduce downstream costs associated with crises, including fewer Baker Act incidents or incarcerations, according to testimony.
An amendment (barcode 7371536) adopted in committee changes the effective date to align with the effective dates of new insurance plans (typically Jan. 1). Public testimony included Michael McCray, who described delays in Medicaid home-and-community-based waiver renewals, and Alan Abramowitz, CEO of The Arc of Florida, who supported the bill and said removing the age requirement and the cap will allow individuals to access needed services and could save the state money.
The committee recorded no opposition in the hearing; several advocacy groups filed appearance forms and waived in support, including The Arc of Florida, Autism Speaks and the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis. On roll call, senators recorded affirmative votes and the bill was reported favorably with committee substitute.
Advocates urged the Legislature to review Medicaid waiver administration and continuation of services in parallel with the private-insurance changes the bill makes.
