TY - JOUR
T1 - Analyzing state autism private insurance mandates for allied health services
T2 - A pilot study
AU - Douglas, Megan D.
AU - Benevides, Teal W.
AU - Carretta, Henry
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Funding was received from the National Center on HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the Office of Minority Health, Department of Health and Human Service; Kaiser Permanente; Health Resources and Service Administration; and Northrop Grumman in support of the Health Policy Leadership Fellowship in the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine. Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute On Minority Health And Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number U54MD008173. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2017.
PY - 2017/10
Y1 - 2017/10
N2 - Due to the prevalence, severity, and costs associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), it has become a public health issue. In response, state governments have adopted ASD-specific private insurance mandates requiring coverage of ASD screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Despite rapid uptake of these laws, differences exist in the type and levels of coverage, especially for allied health services including occupational therapy. We piloted a structured legal research methodology to code ASD insurance mandates that impact allied health service provisions. State private insurance mandates were obtained from WestlawNext. A coding methodology was piloted on 14 states and included variables for age and service limits, treatments covered, and medical necessity. Coding methods were feasible and highly reliable among raters. Ten of 12 states had a coverage mandate, many with specific provisions for allied health providers. A full analysis of all 50 states is warranted to identify provisions affecting allied health providers serving individuals with ASD.
AB - Due to the prevalence, severity, and costs associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), it has become a public health issue. In response, state governments have adopted ASD-specific private insurance mandates requiring coverage of ASD screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Despite rapid uptake of these laws, differences exist in the type and levels of coverage, especially for allied health services including occupational therapy. We piloted a structured legal research methodology to code ASD insurance mandates that impact allied health service provisions. State private insurance mandates were obtained from WestlawNext. A coding methodology was piloted on 14 states and included variables for age and service limits, treatments covered, and medical necessity. Coding methods were feasible and highly reliable among raters. Ten of 12 states had a coverage mandate, many with specific provisions for allied health providers. A full analysis of all 50 states is warranted to identify provisions affecting allied health providers serving individuals with ASD.
KW - Access
KW - Autism
KW - Insurance
KW - Occupational therapy
KW - Policy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85033590620&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85033590620&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1539449217730355
DO - 10.1177/1539449217730355
M3 - Article
C2 - 28874097
AN - SCOPUS:85033590620
SN - 1539-4492
VL - 37
SP - 218
EP - 226
JO - OTJR Occupation, Participation and Health
JF - OTJR Occupation, Participation and Health
IS - 4
ER -
