Washington State's and Federal Mental Health Parity Acts (MHP) promised to end the false and biased distinction between physical and mental health which had long infected insurance policies. Medical Necessity is an important measure of the Act. Health plans that are regulated by the Parity Act are prohibited from using a special medical necessity criteria for mental health services. This includes behavioral (i.e. Applied Behavior Analysis) and neurodevelopmental therapies (i.e. speech and occupational therapies). Washington Autism Alliance & Advocacy (WAAA) has been involved in clarifying autism insurance benefits under MHP since 2006, through legislative advocacy and litigation. Below is an update of Class Action Lawsuits that aim to end discrimination based on autism or another developmental disability.
If your child has been denied medically necessary treatments for autism, you are strongly encouraged to appeal the denial. WAAA can help!