Advertise
Resources
Member, Beacon International Group, Ltd.
TRENTON, N.J.—New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine signed into law Thursday a measure mandating expanded health insurance coverage for autism and other developmental disabilities, making New Jersey the 15th state with such a law, according to a statement by the governor's office.
New Jersey, where one of every 94 children is diagnosed with autism, has the nation's highest occurrence rate of the disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The average is 1 in 150 children nationwide.
The bill requires up to $36,000 in annual coverage per individual under age 21 covered. It also requires coverage for diagnostic screening, along with occupational, medical and speech therapy.