Senate committee approves bill allowing two clinicians to diagnose autism to speed services

The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee voted to pass House Bill 15 45 after hearing from Senator Ingram and Melissa Stone of the Division of Developmental Disability Services. Stone said the bill implements recommendations from the autism task force and makes the key change of allowing two, rather than three, qualified professionals to provide an autism diagnosis. "We think that this will speed the process of diagnosis for families, especially in rural areas," Stone said.

Supporters told the committee the change is intended only to simplify and accelerate diagnosis, not to alter which clinicians may provide services after diagnosis. In response to questions from Senator Sullivan and others, Stone said the bill does not change service eligibility: "We're not changing who can provide the service...We're actually just trying to make it more simple to get the diagnosis." She also explained that statutory language limiting participation in an autism Medicaid waiver to three years was struck to reflect how the waiver operates today, based on work with the waiver manager Inclusive Communities.

Senator Hammer asked what constitutes a "physician" under the bill and how disagreements among clinicians would be resolved. Stone said existing practice treats any licensed medical doctor as a physician for these purposes and that, as now, clinicians could seek second opinions if they disagree. The sponsor closed and the committee passed the bill by voice vote.

Next steps: the bill passed the committee and will proceed through the legislature along the normal calendar and chamber procedures.