HF 2031 (LSB 5248YH (4) 85)

HOUSE FILE 2031

BY  HEDDENS, HEATON, STUTSMAN, RUFF, MEYER, HUNTER, KEARNS, KRESSIG, GASKILL, DAWSON, MURPHY, BERRY, BACON, and HUSEMAN

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to autism spectrum disorders coverage for certain persons covered under group health insurance plans for state employees and including applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 514C.28, subsection 2, paragraph b, Code 2014, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  “Autism service provider” means a person, entity, or group providing that designs, supervises, or provides treatment of autism spectrum disorders. An autism service provider that designs, supervises, or provides treatment of autism spectrum disorders that includes applied behavioral analysis shall be certified as a behavior analyst by the behavior analyst certification board or shall be a health professional licensed under chapter 147 or shall be certified as a behavior analyst, or certified as an assistant behavior analyst working under the supervision of a certified behavior analyst, by the behavior analyst certification board. A certified assistant behavior analyst who works under the supervision of a certified behavior analyst may implement components of a treatment plan that include applied behavior analysis.
    Sec. 2.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to plans established pursuant to chapter 509A for employees of the state that are delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2015.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill amends Code section 514C.28 which provides autism spectrum disorders coverage to certain persons under 21 years of age that are covered under group health insurance plans established for state employees.
   The bill provides that an autism service provider includes an entity as well as a person or group, that designs or supervises, as well as provides treatment of autism spectrum disorders. The bill provides that an autism service provider that designs, supervises, or provides treatment of autism spectrum disorders that includes applied behavioral analysis must be certified as a behavior analyst by the behavior analyst certification board. The bill also provides that an “autism service provider” includes a person who is certified by the board as an assistant behavior analyst working under the supervision of a certified behavior analyst. A certified assistant behavior analyst who works under the supervision of a certified behavior analyst is allowed to implement components of a treatment plan that include applied behavior analysis.
   The bill is applicable to plans established pursuant to Code chapter 509A for employees of the state that are delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2015.