Good news for a change from the State Senate, where yesterday they passed
SB 464 (Health insurance; mandated coverage for autism spectrum disorder). Kudos to Sen. Janet Howell, who sponsored the bill this year, and to everyone who voted for this bill (strangely, one NOVA Democrat - George Barker - voted "nay"). The legislation will help 14,000 kids with autism in Virginia and
save the state an estimated $2.3 billion long-term.
[Texas and Pennsylvania] have found they can provide the medically prescribed services to their children and create savings of between $187,000 and $220,000 per child in special-education costs over a three-year period. In Virginia the savings are estimated at $167,000 per child. With 14,000 children, that equates to $2.3 billion in savings.”
Helping kids with autism and saving the state huge amounts of money? That sounds like a "win-win" all around. Nice job, definitely an accomplishment to be proud of!
