Insurance Now Covers Autism Therapies

Blues plan to cover autism therapies for children 2-5
Jennifer Chambers / The Detroit News
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
http://detnews.com/article/20090512/METRO/905120330/Blues-plan-to-cover-autism-therapies-for-children-2-5

Detroit -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan announced Monday it plans to offer coverage beginning July 1 for autism therapies that provide intensive early intervention.

The new benefit option covers children 2 to 5 years old who use a treatment called applied behavioral analysis.

The benefit coverage, which consists of up to 60 treatment sessions, can be used once per child, and will be available for purchase by groups -- such as employers -- that already have outpatient mental health coverage.

My Comment:
Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) can be a key to making dietary changes work. So many parents say "The only thing he will eat is _________" or, "I could never could get him to eat _______".

Here's an article about using ABA to introduce new foods into an autistic child's diet...

"Working with Jeff’s behavioral therapy team (using Applied Behavioral Analysis) principles and occupational therapists together we developed a plan to get Jeff to eat new, natural foods in their natural form. This entire process took six months, but the efforts have paid off."
http://gfcf-diet.talkaboutcuringautism.org/picky-kids-eating-autism.htm