Nov 20, 2008 10:51 pm US/Central
Law Will Require Insurers To Cover Autism Therapy
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Brianna DiCiani is the impetus behind legislation that would require insurance companies to cover autism treatments.
CBS
Chances are you know parents struggling to care for a child with autism.
Now, Illinois has passed a new law granting coverage for treatment up to $36,000.
Illinois becomes the sixth state to require the coverage. Those who fought for it say it will give financial relief to more than 10,000 families, CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports.
Five-year-old Brianna DiCiani doesn't really know it yet, but her father helped improve thousands of lives in Illinois Thursday. Brianna has autism and her dad wrote a bill that requires insurers to cover all autism treatments, up to 36 thousand dollars a year.
After an almost year-long battle and political wrangling in Springfield between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House Speaker Mike Madigan, it passed.
"It was a huge joy to know it's finally over," Peter DiCiani said. "We've had so many attempts to get this bill passed."
According to the Autism Society of America, 1 in 150 people has autism. Diciani says 10,619 people in Illinois have the disorder, and studies show early treatment is critical.
Brianna wasn't speaking or making eye contact when she was diagnosed at age 3. Now, she is. But therapy cost the DiCianis almost $80,000.
"It's been tough but one thing about a big family is everybody comes together and they rally around you when times get tough," Peter DiCiani said.
But DiCiani and his wife say all the emotion and effort was worth it - if it now means a brighter future for children like their daughter.
"Just the thought of kids in the future telling us how they felt when they weren't able to speak," Rose DiCiani, Briana's mother, said.
Blagojevich still has to sign the bill. In a statement Thursday he said he applauds the legislation's passage and says he fought diligently for this cause.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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