Insurance Coverage To Expand For Autism Patients | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post, Dr. Michael Reichel, is a contributor to ECU News Services.

    The North Carolina Senate is preparing to finalize a bill approved last year by the state's House of Representatives mandating more universal health insurance coverage for autism services. And the North Carolina State Health Plan announced May 30 that families of state employees and retirees will soon be eligible for a leading autism treatment.

    Next year, the State Health Plan will offer members up to $36,000 per year in coverage for applied behavioral analysis – a treatment that addresses the behavior problems that can occur with autism spectrum disorder. Qualifying patients will be younger than 26 and diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by a licensed physician or clinical psychologist who has deemed the treatment medically necessary.

    Autism spectrum disorder refers to a group of developmental disabilities that affect how a person understands what they see, hear or sense, according to information published by the Autism Society of North Carolina. People with ASD typically have difficulty understanding verbal and nonverbal communication and learning appropriate ways of behaving and interacting socially.

    Dr. Michael Reichel, a developmental and behavioral specialist in East Carolina University's pediatrics department, and director of ECU Physicians' Family Autism Center, is an expert on autism spectrum disorder and the importance of early intervention and treatment. He said ECU's multidisciplinary Center is poised to help more families throughout the region.

    "Our goal is to help parents and professionals in our region navigate the complex systems of diagnosis, the behavioral and educational care, and social and community supports available for families dealing with autism spectrum disorder," he said.

    The Autism Society of North Carolina will hold their Autism Awareness Day at the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh on June 10.

    According to the advocacy group Autism Speaks, 37 states currently recognize the benefits of autism treatment.

    NOTE TO MEDIA: To arrange an interview with Reichel, contact Amy Ellis at 252-744-3764 or ellisa14@ecu.edu.