Missouri lawmakers to advocate for kids with developmental disabilities

JEFFERSON CITY — Robyn Schelp's perseverance is paying off.

Two mid-Missouri lawmakers have agreed to sponsor bills to offer broader health insurance coverage to people with developmental disabilities. Currently, it can be difficult to obtain insurance coverage for treatments such as therapy to improve speech and motor skills, and Schelp says this legislation could help people like her son, who has autism.

Schelp's bill was filed in the Senate by Sen. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, and in the House by Rep. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport. It contains broad wording that would expand a state treatment program to include cognitive, emotional, mental and developmental disabilities and to encompass "habilitative" care such as speech therapy.

The bill also states that insurance companies would not be allowed to "limit coverage or deny reimbursement" for individuals receiving these treatments.

Read more: http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/25/found-missouri-lawmakers-advocate-kids-developmental-disabilities/98296988/