Blue Cross Blue Shield to cover limited ABA intervention in Michigan

[Guest guest]

Blue Cross Blue Shield today announced limited coverage of ABA treatment for

autism for children between 2 and 5 years of age Michigan. Up to 60 treatment

sessions will be covered per child beginning July 1, 2009. Other details are not

available pending regulatory approval.

The BCBSM press release is below:

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan today announced it plans to offer its

customer groups the ability to purchase coverage for autism treatment programs

that provide intensive early intervention. The new benefit option covers

children aged two to five years old who use a treatment called Applied

Behavioral Analysis (ABA). The new benefit option is subject to approval by the

Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation.

The benefit coverage, which consists of up to 60 treatment sessions (usually 12

weeks) can be used once per child, will be available for purchase by customer

groups that already have outpatient mental health coverage. The Blues plan to

begin offering the coverage July 1, pending regulatory approval. Many Michigan

insurers do not currently provide customer groups with the ability to purchase

the benefit option.

" We saw a need in the community and moved to find a way to address it, " said

Simmer, M.D., Blues senior vice president and chief medical officer. " We

developed this coverage option as part of our commitment to improving the health

and wellness of all Michigan children and families. "

The change will not in any way affect current BCBSM medical coverage that has

been available to children with autism. BCBSM currently pays for some services

for children with autism including an initial exam and evaluation for speech

therapy.

" This is a reasonable new offering which does not unduly create a price impact

on customer groups that would affect their ability to continue to provide health

care coverage to their employees, " Simmer said.

BCBSM customer groups can contact their agent or BCBSM sales representative for

further information once the coverage option receives regulatory approval.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit organization, provides and

administers health benefits to 4.7 million members residing in Michigan in

addition to members of Michigan-headquartered groups who reside outside

the state. The company offers a broad variety of plans including: Traditional

Blue Cross Blue Shield; Blue Preferred, Community Blue and Healthy Blue

Incentives PPOs; Blue Care Network HMO; BCN Healthy Blue Living; Flexible Blue

plans compatible with health savings accounts;

Medicare Advantage; Part D Prescription Drug plans, and MyBlue products in the

under-age-65 individual market. BCBSM also offers dental, vision andhearing

plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit

corporations and independent lice

http://www.bcbsm.com/pr/pr_05-11-2009_78322.shtml