Parents expressed disappointment and confusion Saturday over the likely delay in implementation of at least part of a new state law designed to mandate insurance coverage for children with autism.
"Depressing" is how Christy Evanko of Hanover County described it.
"This is great treatment, and it works," Evanko said after a workshop for parents and providers at River Road United Methodist Church. "Insurance was going to cover it, and now they're not going to cover it."
Apparently, at least, not right away.
The law, signed by Gov. Bob McDonnell in May, requires state-regulated large group health plans and the state employee health plan to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for children ages 2 to 6.
But the law included an amendment that requires state licensing for applied behavior analysts who provide a significant and costly element of intensive autism care. Families were dismayed to learn in recent weeks that the state Board of Medicine cannot create a licensing procedure until additional legislation is passed.
The hard-won law was supposed to go into effect in January and, while related therapies such as speech will be covered, insurance companies will not be required to pay for applied behavior analysis, which Teresa Champion of the Virginia Autism Project described as a "huge" part of overall treatment.
"We're not talking cure necessarily," said Champion, who lives in Northern Virginia and led Saturday's workshop. "We're talking the ability to function at a higher level with fewer supports."
Dr. Karen Singleton, a physician whose 6-year-old son was covered by insurance when the family lived in Pennsylvania, said it was "like night and day" coming to Virginia, where it's a struggle for families to get any autism-related benefits.
She said her family is fortunate that it can afford treatment for her son, but such expensive therapies aren't accessible to most families.
"I think licensure is very reasonable," said Singleton, who's on the board of the Autism Society of Central Virginia. "I can agree with that, but I think there are some shenanigans going on with the delay."
Champion urged parents to contact their state representatives and said they will need to marshal support once again during the next General Assembly session.
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