Oklahomans Pushing For Autism Insurance Reform

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would help thousands of families dealing with Autism. 

House Bill 2962 was introduced in a House Insurance Committee earlier this week. Supporters say Oklahoma is one of only seven states that don’t make insurance companies cover autism treatments. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in every 68 young people is diagnosed with Autism, which is a disability that makes it hard to communicate. 

Tara Hood has two children who have Autism.

“There is a treatment out there, we know it’s evidence-based. It’s the most effective treatment, it’s called ABA, or Applied Behavioral Analysis, and Oklahoma families are desperate, and depending on lawmakers to pass this legislation, so they have access to this care,” said Hood.

Dr. Scott Singleton is Clinical Director at Good Shepherd Catholic School in Oklahoma City. All of the students at the school either suffer from Autism or another neurological disability. He said passing this legislation is a no-brainer.

“It costs about $5,000 a month if you don’t get early intervention, if you get early intervention it drops that number down to about $3,000 a month,” Dr. Singleton.