Who’s (Not) Paying for Autism Treatment?
A decade ago, autism, a developmental disorder that can chronically alter a child’s social interactions, communication and learning skills, and behavior, was a rare and poorly understood disorder. The diagnosis came with few treatment options and poor prognosis for improvement. Children who never learned to speak or care for themselves were sometimes institutionalized. However, as the number of autism cases increases, so does the recognition that early behavioral intervention is effective in helping many children; some advocates even claim intensive therapy can remove mild autistic symptoms all together. But this therapy does not come without problems, the biggest being cost. Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disorder and runs the nation over $90 billion dollars a year. According to Autism Speaks, a national non-profit, this amount is expected to double in the next decade. Who will pay for the increasing demand for care? Insurance Coverage Lacking Currently, there is
