By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
Jefferson City – The state Senate has given initial approval to a measure that would require insurance providers to cover treatment for autistic children.
The Senate version would provide $55,000 a year for treatment called applied behavioral analysis, an intensive, and expensive, program that has successfully helped children with autism improve social skills. The coverage would last until the child turns 21.
That narrows the gap with a a measure approved by a state House committee that would offer $36,000 per year for children younger than 10, and $20,000 a year after that. Neither measure includes a provision that would extend the same coverage to Medicaid patients.
The Senate measure includes a provision that would allow Missouri residents to purchase insurance from out of state companies that would not be bound by the Missouri law. That would allow those residents to avoid the premium increases the insurance industry calls inevitable.
Governor Jay Nixon and legislative leaders say the legislation is a priority for the session.
And the Missouri House approved a measure Wednesday that would require public officials to take a drug test before taking office.
The proposal was an amendment to legislation that establishes a system of drug testing for certain welfare recipients. The House did not vote on the larger measure.
Lawmakers, judges, and other state officeholders would have to take the drug test before taking office, and every two years after that. Refusing to take the test would be an admission of using a controlled substance without permission.