Lori and Gordon Swan with their sons, Lane, 9, left, and Michael, 12, at their home in Wheatfield Township, Mich. The Swans paid about $19,000 last year for therapy to help Michael, who is autistic, because it wasn't covered by their health insurance. The Swans and others Michigan families with autistic children have joined an effort to require health insurance companies to cover more intensive and costly behavioral therapies for autism, a range of disorders that hinder a person's ability to communicate and interact with others. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, April 9, 2009)
Mich House votes for autism coverage
Dems lead the way in 83-25 vote
Updated: Thursday, 25 Jun 2009, 9:32 AM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 24 Jun 2009, 12:09 PM EDT
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The Democrat-led Michigan House has voted to require better insurance coverage for autistic children.
Legislation approved by an 83-25 vote Wednesday next heads to the Republican-led Senate.
Parents, school officials and other advocates say it's unfair insurers don't cover more intensive behavioral therapies for autism.
Autism hinders a person's ability to communicate and interact with others.
Opponents of the bills worry about the cost of mandating expensive treatments, while others say autism shouldn't be singled out for attention when other disorders deserve equal insurance coverage.
Autism has been diagnosed in about one out of every 150 U.S. children.
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