ALBANY -- Ian's Law prevents health insurance companies from dropping whole classes of coverage.  The Governor recently signed it and another health insurance bill called "Prior Approval" into law.   A third bill mandating insurance coverage for autism is sitting on the Governor's desk.  This series of changes has consumer advocates claiming victory, and small businesses crying "uncle". 

Paige Pierce lobbied Albany and won. Her autistic son was able to get the right therapies covered by insurance…

If signed by the Governor, the Autism Insurance Bill, which passed unanimously in both houses, will require health insurers to cover the screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism. 

No doubt. They are also politically difficult for lawmakers to vote "no" on, which was why, in 2007 when the legislature created a mandate relief commission to study the costs & benefits of such legislation before it hit the floor for a vote, Mike Elmendorf was thrilled.  But not for long.

NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business) does not represent health insurers but Elmendorf says his group decided to actively lobby against the reinstatement of so-called Prior Approval under which the state gets to prescreen health insurance rate increases.