Autism Therapy To Become Mandatory Benefit For Federal Workers

by Michelle Diament | March 1, 2016


In what advocates are hailing as a major step forward, the nation’s largest employer will require that all of its health insurance plans cover applied behavior analysis for kids with autism beginning next year.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management said all health plans within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program – which covers federal employees, retirees and their dependents – must include the behavior therapy starting in 2017.

“OPM has now determined that appropriate coverage of ABA treatment by all plans/options is necessary,” reads a letter sent late last week to insurance carriers interested in servicing the government program.


“Therefore, for the 2017 plan year, carriers may no longer exclude ABA for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We expect all carriers to offer clinically appropriate and medically necessary treatment for children diagnosed with ASD,” the notice states.


https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/03/01/autism-mandatory-federal/21985/