BRIEF: Bill to expand autism coverage fails in ND Senate

March 21--A bill requiring North Dakota insurance providers to expand coverage for autism services was rejected today in the state Senate.

The main provision of HB 1434 would require insurers in the state to provide coverage for applied behavioral analysis, a widely used therapy method used for autistic children which is not currently covered under most North Dakota health insurance policies.

Senators voted 16-31 to defeat the proposal.

The bill was approved by the House last month after initially failing to pass by just one vote. It was returned to the floor one day after the initial tally and passed with a 61-29 vote tally.

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