Health insurance firms in Oklahoma will now cover treatment for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder after a bill was passed by the Oklahoma Senate,which voted 36-5 in favor of House Bill 2962. The approved legislation requires these companies to cover screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autistic patients younger than 9.
For up to 25 hours weekly, children will have access to applied behavior analysis, which would otherwise cost their families $25,000 per year.
Prior to this, the Washington Senate approved two autism-related legislations and sent it to the House on April 14. These bills will revise the procedures conducted by the Delaware Autism Program to deal with students diagnosed with autism.
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex developmental disability that typically affects individual’s communications skills and interaction with other people, according to the nonprofit Autism Society. This disorder appears during early childhood and has no cure.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in March 2014 that the prevalence of the disability had increased to 1 out of 68 births in the U.S., compared with the 2004 rate of 1 in 125. In March 2004, autism affected 1 of every 125 boys.
Autism has no cure, but early diagnosis can help kids have an improved lifestyle
Experts believe early detection of the autism spectrum disorder can really help kids improve their lifestyle, taking into account the severe issues they experiment when processing sensory information and trying to have normal relationships with their friends and relatives.
A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Vermont revealed that autistic patients tend to look at people’s mouth when their interlocutor is talking about emotional issues, missing the main information source found in their eyes. Scientists then developed an eye-tracking technology that could serve for early diagnosis.
The study findings were published in the journal Research in Autism Spectrum Disorder, in which the authors noted the importance of the development of new techniques in order to reduce the significant number of children who go undiagnosed for years.
Source: Tech Times