An Act To Encourage the Diagnosis and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0021
Committee: Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: BRYANT, GERZOFSKY, CAREY
Amends: 24 MRSA §2317-B, 24-A MRSA §2765, 24-A MRSA §2847-Q, 24-A MRSA §4257

Legislative Document 
No. 21 
H.P. 16 
House of Representatives, January 5,2009 
An Act To Encourage the Diagnosis and Treatment of Autism 
Spectrum Disorders 
Reference to the Committee on Insurance and Financial Services suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative BRYANT of Windham. 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Senator GERZOFSKY of Cumberland and 
Representative: CAREY of Lewiston, Senator: BRYANT of Oxford. 
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 24 MRSA §2317-B, sub-§19, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 256, Pt. M, §10, is 
amended to read: 
19. Title 24-A, chapter 67. Medicare supplement insurance policies, Title 24-A, chapter 
67; aOO 
Sec. 2. 24 MRSA §2317-B, sub-§20, as amended by PL 2003, c. 428, Pt. G, § 1, is 
further amended to read: 
20. Title 24-A, chapters 68 and 68-A. Long-term care insurance, nursing home care 
insurance and home health care insurance, Title 24-A, chapters 68 and 68-A.,. ; and 
Sec. 3. 24 MRSA §2317-B, sub-§21 is enacted to read: 
21. Title 24-A, sections 2765, 2847-0 and 4257. Coverage for diagnostic testing and 
screening of autism spectrum disorders, Title 24-A, sections 2765,2847-0 and 4257. 
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Sec. 4. 24-A MRSA §2765 is enacted to read: 
§2765. Coverage for diagnostic testing and screening for autism spectrum disorders 
1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, 
the following terms have the following meanings. 
A. 
"Autism spectrum disorders" means a spectrum of psychological conditions 
characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions and communication as 
well as severely restricted interests and highly repetitive behavior. 
B. 
"Diagnostic testing" means a medical test performed to aid in the diagnosis or 
detection of a disease or disorder. 
2. Required coverage. All individual health insurance policies and contracts must 
provide coverage for diagnostic testing and screening for autism spectrum disorders. 
3. Limits; coinsurances; deductibles. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any 
policy or contract that provides coverage for services under this section may contain 
provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and 
exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this 
section. 
Sec. 5. 24-A MRSA §2847-Q is enacted to read: 
§2847-0. Coverage for diagnostic testing and screening for autism spectrum disorders 
1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, 
the following terms have the following meanings. 
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A. 
"Autism spectrum disorders" means a spectrum of psychological conditions 
characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions and communication as 
well as severely restricted interests and highly repetitive behavior. 
B. 
"Diagnostic testing" means a medical test pelformed to aid in the diagnosis or 
detection of a disease or disorder. 
2. Required coverage. All group health insurance policies, contracts and cel1ificates 
must provide coverage for diagnostic testing and screening for autism spectrum disorders. 
3. Limits; coinsurances; deductibles. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any 
policy, contract or cel1ificate that provides coverage for services under this section may 
contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, 
I I 
deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the 
requirements of this section. 
Sec. 6. 24-A MRSA §4257is enacted to read: 
§4257. Coverage for diagnostic testing and screening for autism spectrum disorders 
1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, 
the following terms have the following meanings. 
A. 
"Autism spectrum disorders" means a spectrum of psychological conditions 
characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions and communication as 
well as severely restricted interests and highly repetitive behavior. 
B. 
"Diagnostic testing" means a medical test performed to aid in the diagnosis or 
I 
detection of a disease or disorder. 
2. Required coverage. All health maintenance organization individual and group health 
insurance policies, contracts and certificates must provide coverage for diagnostic testing and 
screening for autism spectrum disorders. 
3. Limits; coinsurances; deductibles. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any 
policy, contract or certificate that provides coverage for services under this section may 
contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, 
deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the 
requirements of this section. 
Sec. 7. Application. The requirements of this Act apply to all policies, contracts and 
certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or 
after January 1, 2010. For purposes of this Act, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no 
later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires health insurance policies, contracts and certificates to provide coverage 
for diagnostic testing and screening for autism spectrum disorders. The provisions of this bill 
apply to all policies, contracts and certificates issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2010.