Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Assemblywoman Russell: New law will help families caring for loved ones with autism

Law will save families money and improve patients’ quality of life in the long run

“I applaud Governor Cuomo for signing this law which requires insurance companies to cover screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. This law is a sigh of relief for many families who have struggled to keep up with the expensive medical care necessary for treating children with autism.

“Caring for a child with autism is a challenge, and it becomes even more challenging given the ever-rising cost of treating the disorder. This law means that hardworking families won’t have to go broke to care for a child with autism. With more families being able to afford coverage, children with autism will be diagnosed sooner, start treatment sooner, and will need less care later in life, bringing costs down for everyone and improving the quality of life for countless New Yorkers affected by autism.”

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