Bill to provide care for autistic children in Virginia is under attack

By Staff Writer

Coverage for autistic children continues to be a hotbed of controversy throughout Virginia. Governor Bob McDonnell recently pushed a last-minute bill that would mandate coverage by some health plans for young people who have the condition, The Washington Post reports.

Lawmakers told the news source that McDonnell wishes to tighten eligibility for some small employer groups and make the treatment less available by requiring that certified medical professionals provide the care, not someone supervised by a certified provider as the bill currently allows.

“This is a very popular bill that helps a lot of children and families and it would be tragic if the governor were to veto or amend it,” Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax County and a sponsor of the legislation, told the news provider.

Now more than ever, parents may want to enroll their children into therapeutic boarding school in an effort to soothe some of the symptoms of the condition.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, out of the 4 million children are that are born the in the U.S. each year, approximately 36,500 children will eventually be diagnosed with autism.