Politics Watch — August 6, 2009
Nixon announces principles of Autism coverage
Gov. Nixon laid out his principles for autism insurance coverage in Columbia earlier today. According to a news release from the governor's office, his stop at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders was one of three he made in the state today to announce principles he feels are key to legislation mandating insurance coverage for autism.
The news release said Nixon's principles are first, that health insurance plans renewed or issued after Jan. 1, 2011 must provide coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Second, this coverage is only for medically necessary treatments for the disorders and the coverage is capped somewhere between $35,000 and $55,000. Third, Nixon said there can be no limit on patients' visits to Autism service providers. Finally, Nixon said insurance companies should not be able to deny or cancel coverage based solely on the fact that someone is diagnosed with autism.
In the news release, Nixon said it was important that insurance coverage for ASD pass the Missouri General Assembly.
“It is clear to me and has become clear to bipartisan majorities of both the Missouri House and Senate that action on autism coverage legislation can wait no longer," Nixon said. "A bill that guarantees that insurance providers will cover the most effective treatments for autism must pass this legislative session and it must include substantial provisions that make real differences for real families."
Legislation to cover autism patients passed the Missouri Senate last session, but the legislation stalled in the House.
St. Louis resident Molly Schad, who has a son diagnosed with autism, accompanied Nixon during his stop across the state. In the release, she said guaranteed coverage was necessary.
“Harry’s therapy costs thousands of dollars a year and has meant financial hardship for our family.” Schad said. “There has to be a better way. Insurance isn’t good for very much if it doesn’t cover the one avenue that actually makes the life of a child more productive. A guarantee for ABA treatments is badly needed.”
The Missouri legislature, which is in recess now, is expected to take this issue up once the next session begins in January.
Parts of state to hold sales tax holiday
One of Missouri's two annual sales tax holidays will be going on this weekend. From Friday to Sunday, items relating to school supplies will not be subject to the 4.225 percent state sales tax.
Although shoppers in Columbia will not have to pay the state sales tax during the weekend, they will still be required to pay the city's sales tax of 3.325 percent. The law establishing the tax free weekend allows for all sales taxes to be waived, but it also lets individual cities choose whether they participate in the holiday.
According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, clothing that is $100 or less, purchases of school supplies that are less than $50 and laptops that are less than $3,500 are all exempt from state sales tax. Computer software costing less than $350 and computer accessories that are less than $3,500 are also sales tax free.
According to the MDR Web site, some of the closest cities to Columbia that are participating in the holiday are Centralia and Mexico. For these, and other participating towns, the local sales tax will not be added to the purchase price of the qualifying items.
The state's other sales tax holiday takes place in April and exempts energy efficient appliances from sales taxes.
