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Blue Cross Blue Shield Ordered to Pay for Autism Treatment

By Sarah Pierce

A Detroit federal judge has given final approval in a historic class action lawsuit that will require Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to provide insurance coverage for autism treatment for children.

The class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of 100 families with autistic children who sought reimbursement for an autism treatment known as applied behavioral therapy (ABA). ABA has been recognized in the medical community for years as an effective form of autism treatment in children, yet Blue Cross refused to acknowledge it and continued to call it “experimental,” despite internal documents that showed they believed otherwise.

Under the class action settlement, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will pay for ABA treatments that were given to more than 100 children in the past six years. It has also announced, separate from the lawsuit, that it will offer insurers the ability to purchase coverage for autism treatment programs like ABA that provide intensive early intervention. Blue Cross agreed to settle the $1 million lawsuit last June; last week’s final approval mandates Blue Cross make payments to the families within 14 days.

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Updated April 20th, 2010

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