1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to insurance; specifying required behavioral health coverage for children 
1.3 	and young adults who have autism spectrum disorder;proposing coding for new 
1.4 	law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62Q.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [62Q.472] AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER; INCLUSION IN AND 
1.7 	PARITY OF COVERAGE REQUIRED.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in 
1.9 	this subdivision have the meanings given.
1.10 	(b) "Autism spectrum disorders" or "ASD" means one or more of the following 
1.11 	conditions as determined by the criteria set forth in the most recent edition of the 
1.12 	Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric 
1.13 	Association (DSM-IV Manual):
1.14 	(1) autism or autistic disorder;
1.15 	(2) Asperger's syndrome;
1.16 	(3) Fragile X syndrome;
1.17 	(4) Rett's syndrome;
1.18 	(5) childhood disintegrative disorder; or
1.19 	(6) pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified.
1.20 	(b) "Generally recognized services for treatment of autism spectrum disorder" 
1.21 	includes, but is not limited to:
1.22 	(1) evaluation and assessment services;
1.23 	(2) applied behavioral analysis;
1.24 	(3) behavior training and behavior management;
2.1 	(4) speech therapy;
2.2 	(5) occupational therapy;
2.3 	(6) physical therapy; and
2.4 	(7) medications and nutritional supplements.
2.5 		Subd. 2.Parity required. (a) Health plan coverage of treatment for autism 
2.6 	spectrum disorders, to the extent that the treatment consists of mental health services, is 
2.7 	subject to section 62Q.47. This section does not limit coverage required under section 
2.8 	62Q.47 that applies to autism spectrum disorders.
2.9 	(b) Health plan coverage of treatment for autism spectrum disorders, to the extent 
2.10 	the treatment does not consist of mental health services, is subject to this subdivision and 
2.11 	must comply with the parity requirements of section 62Q.47 on the same basis as mental 
2.12 	health services, except as otherwise expressly provided in this section.
2.13 		Subd. 3.Coverage specifications. Coverage required under subdivision 2, 
2.14 	paragraph (b):
2.15 	(1) must cover all generally recognized services related to autism spectrum disorder;
2.16 	(2) may be limited to patients who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 
2.17 	age 25 or younger;
2.18 	(3) may end at age 25; and
2.19 	(4) may be limited to treatment prescribed by the patient's licensed health care 
2.20 	provider under a treatment plan approved by the health plan company.

2.21 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2009, and applies to 
2.22 	coverage offered, sold, issued, or renewed on or after that date.

2.23 	Sec. 2. AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER TASK FORCE.
 2.24 	(a) The Autism Spectrum Disorder Task Force is created in the legislative branch of 
2.25 	state government.
2.26 	(b) The task force is composed of 13 members as follows:
2.27 	(1) three members of the senate, appointed by the senate Subcommittee on 
2.28 	Committees of the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration;
2.29 	(2) three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of 
2.30 	the house;
2.31 	(3) a parent of a child on the autism spectrum who is a member of the State Special 
2.32 	Education Advisory Council, appointed by that organization;
2.33 	(4) an employee of the Department of Education who specializes in autism spectrum 
2.34 	disorders, appointed by the commissioner of education;
3.1 	(5) a pediatrician with expertise in mild to severe developmental disabilities affiliated 
3.2 	with the University of Minnesota Autism Treatment Clinic, appointed by that clinic;
3.3 	(6) a person appointed by the Autism Society of Minnesota;
3.4 	(7) a county representative employed in the public health or social service division of 
3.5 	a seven-county metropolitan county, appointed by the Minnesota Council on Disabilities;
3.6 	(8) a county representative form the public health or social services division of 
3.7 	a county outside of the seven-county metropolitan area, appointed by the Minnesota 
3.8 	Council on Disabilities; and
3.9 	(9) an employee of a school district who works with children who have autism 
3.10 	spectrum disorders, appointed by the Autism Society of Minnesota.
3.11 	Appointments must be made by September 1, 2009, and must be reported to the 
3.12 	Legislative Coordinating Commission.
3.13 	(c) The Departments of Education and Health shall provide substantive assistance to 
3.14 	the task force, including providing the task force with a count of children who have ASD 
3.15 	with an IEP and students with ASD who have a 504 plan. Additionally, the Department of 
3.16 	Health shall submit a count of the adults with ASD enrolled in social service programs, 
3.17 	and number of people with ASD who receive care under Special Needs Basic Care and 
3.18 	other waiver programs.
3.19 	(d) The Legislative Coordinating Commission shall provide administrative and 
3.20 	fiscal services to the task force.
3.21 	(e) The task force shall examine the following:
3.22 	(1) ways to improve services provided by the task force and all state and political 
3.23 	subdivisions;
3.24 	(2) sources of public funding available for treatment and ways to improve efficiency 
3.25 	in the use of those funds;
3.26 	(3) methods to improve coordination in the delivery of service between agencies, 
3.27 	health providers, and schools;
3.28 	(4) availability of medical providers of treatment for autism spectrum disorder and 
3.29 	how to increase their numbers; 
3.30 	(5) scientific research on the most effective treatment methods; and 
3.31 	(6) ways to enhance Minnesota's role in autism spectrum disorder research and 
3.32 	delivery of service.
3.33 	(f) The task force shall provide a written report to the legislature in compliance with 
3.34 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 3.195 and 3.197, on the following:
3.35 	(1) summary of the current service delivery model for children by medical, 
3.36 	behavioral, and school systems, and recommendations to improve the current model;
4.1 	(2) alternative methods for delivery, including a model that integrates medical and 
4.2 	behavioral therapy;
4.3 	(3) summary of current treatment protocols and recommendations to improve 
4.4 	treatment protocols based on current scientific autism spectrum disorder research;
4.5 	(4) summary of qualified medical and behavioral providers to treat autism spectrum 
4.6 	disorder in Minnesota and how to increase the number of these providers; and
4.7 	(5) barriers that may exist to providing care to children diagnosed with autism 
4.8 	spectrum disorder and recommendations to eliminate those barriers.
4.9 	(g) The task force shall issue its report no later than December 15, 2010. The task 
4.10 	force terminates June 30, 2011.
4.11 	(h) The task force shall elect a permanent or temporary chair or cochairs at its first 
4.12 	meeting.
4.13 	(i) Nonlegislator members shall serve without pay but shall receive compensation 
4.14 	for expenses under Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 3. Compensation for 
4.15 	legislator members is subject to the rules of the house of representatives and senate.

4.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.