124th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1198		LR 969(02)
	An Act To Reform Insurance Coverage To Include Diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorders
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
	Committee: Insurance and Financial Services
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Potential future biennium cost increase - All Funds Potential future biennium savings - General Fund Potential future biennium savings - Federal Expenditures Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Assumes requiring individual and group health insurance policies, contracts and certificates to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for persons 5 year of age and under, with coverage for applied behavioral therapy subject to a maximum annual benefit of  $36,000 per year, would result in potential costs to the State Employee Health Benefit Plan and potential savings to the MaineCare program in the Department of Health and Human Services and to the Child Development Services program in the Department of Education.  Given the bill as amended would apply to policies and contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2011, any costs or savings to State programs are expected to be minor for the current biennium.
	Estimates of the potential future biennium cost to the State Employee Health Benefit Plan were consistent with the Bureau of Insurance original report to the Insurance and Financial Services Committee that assumed coverage for persons 21 years of age or under and estimated a cost of  $1.90 per member per month.  While an actuarial analysis has not been completed on the bill as amended to require coverage for persons five year of age and under, the fiscal impact is assumed to be reduced by approximately one half, resulting in a total estimated annual cost to the plan of $335,600, with the General Fund portion approximately $138,000 per year and the Highway Fund portion approximately $54,000 per year.
	Estimates of the potential future biennium savings to the MaineCare program are approximately $850,000 per year based on Department of Health and Human Services estimates, with resulting savings to the General Fund of approximately $308,000 per year (assuming a 63.80% federal match).  These estimates are consistent with assumptions included in the original Bureau of Insurance study assuming coverage for persons 21 and under as modified to reflect the revised bill's coverage for persons five years of age and under.
	Potential future biennium savings to the Child Development Services program in the Department of Education cannot be determined.
	Additional costs to the Bureau of Insurance in the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation for the required report are expected to be minor and will be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted resources.