AFGE Applauds OPM's Inclusion of Applied Behavior Analysis Treatment for Autistic Children in FEHBP Plans

Union pushes for further ABA coverage in federal employee health plans

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The American Federation of Government Employees lauds the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) recent announcement to have Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment for children with autism included in Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) plans.  For years, AFGE insisted that OPM recognize ABA as a clinically proven treatment for the medical condition of autism; however, OPM refused saying it was more an "educational" intervention than a medical treatment. Through AFGE's efforts, beginning in 2013, 39 FEHBP plans in 22 states will offer some level of coverage for ABA. While this is a critical first step, it is short of the mandate in place in 31 states that requires private insurers to provide ABA coverage. 

"OPM still has not required FEHBP plans to cover ABA.  It has merely taken the important first step of allowing coverage," said AFGE National President J. David Cox. "While we consider this an important victory, we still must do more to ensure that the parents of autistic children have all of the resources available to them to care for their children. Parents should not have to worry if vital services will be covered by their insurance plan."   

AFGE will continue to press OPM to require all plans to cover ABA on the same terms that they cover other therapeutic treatments for illnesses.

The following FEHBP plans will offer full or partial ABA coverage in the states listed below.

AZ       Health Net Arizona 
AR       QualChoice
CA       United Healthcare CA; Anthem Blue Cross Select HMO/CA; Blue Shield of CA Access + HMO
FL        Capital Health; Coventry So FL; Humana Coverage First; Humana Inc
GA       Humana Coverage First
IL         Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois; Blue Preferred Plus POS; Humana Coverage First; Humana Benefit Plan IL; Humana Health Plan
IN        Physicians Health Plan No Indiana
IA        Coventry IA
KS       Coventry KS; Humana Coverage First
KY       Humana Coverage First; Humana Health Plan Inc
LA       Coventry LA
PA       Geisinger; Health America; UPMC Health Plan
MA      Fallon Community Health Plan
MI        Bluecare Network MI; Grand Valley; Health Alliance
MO      Blue Preferred Plus POS; Humana Coverage First; Humana Health Plan Inc; United Healthcare of Midwest
NV       Health Plan NV
NM      Lovelace
NY       Blue Choice; CDPHP Universal Benefits; Independent Health Association; MVP Health Care  TX       Firstcare; Humana Coverage First; Humana Health Plan TX; United Healthcare of TX
VA       Optima
WA      Group Health
WI       MercyCare

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 670,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia. For the latest AFGE news and information, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees