Bill > SB1590

This bill updates Arizona's insurance regulations regarding autism spectrum disorder (ASD) coverage across different types of insurance providers, including hospital and medical service corporations, health care services organizations, group disability insurers, and blanket disability insurers. The key changes include expanding the definition of autism spectrum disorder to refer to the most recent diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, rather than listing specific disorders like Autistic Disorder and Asperger's Syndrome. The bill removes previous annual dollar limits on behavioral therapy ($50,000 for children up to age 9 and $25,000 for individuals between 9 and 16 years old), which effectively means insurers can no longer impose these specific monetary caps. The legislation maintains existing protections that prevent insurers from excluding or denying coverage for ASD treatments or imposing specific dollar limits based solely on an ASD diagnosis. Behavioral therapy services must still be provided or supervised by a licensed or certified provider, and the coverage does not apply to individual or small employer policies, limited benefit coverage, or services provided outside of Arizona. The bill allows insurers to continue applying standard deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost-sharing provisions to ASD-related treatments.