An overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites support a move to mandate insurance coverage for autism.
That's according to a new study from the group Wisconsin Autism Insurance Now, which shows 85-percent of likely Badger State voters support legislation that requires insurance companies to pay for autism treatments. The coalition's Amy Masek says the public is showing it wants insurance companies to stop discriminating against those with autism.
The telephone poll of 400 likely voters was conducted July 29th through August 3rd. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
Efforts to pass a mandate during the last Legislative session failed, after Republicans argued the state should instead improve a waiver program that helps families. Masek says that won't solve the problem because the state has not been able to keep up with the growing number of children who are diagnosed with autism. There's already a long waiting list for families trying to qualify for the waiver program.
The group is calling on Legislative candidates to show their support for the mandate. Masek says this is an issue that will come up during the next session, and lawmakers need to be ready to address it.