April 30, 2009

Gov. Nixon's statement on House committee passage of autism insurance legislation

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon, who last week traveled to Cape Girardeau to voice his support for autism insurance coverage legislation passed by the Missouri Senate, released the following statement on the passage from a House committee of SB 167:

 "I am pleased that the Health Care Policy Committee today passed a bill providing insurance coverage for autism with bipartisan support. Thousands of Missouri families are impacted by autism, and there is no reason why our state should not be a national leader in diagnosis and treatment of autism and related disorders by ensuring that Missourians have affordable access to available therapies. I applaud the committee for its bipartisan effort at giving Missouri's families the support they need to help their children thrive, and I urge the legislature to send this bill to my desk."

Last Thursday, the Senate passed SB 167 by a vote of 29 in favor and 2 against.