The Alabama Senate has voted in favor of a bill that would require insurers to cover autism therapy but only until the child turns 18.
Senators voted 33-1 Tuesday to mandate the coverage of applied behavioral analysis, an intensive therapy for those with autism.
The House approved the bill unanimously earlier this session. The bill now heads back to the House, where Representatives will decide whether to go along with Senate changes to the bill.
Parents of children with autism have been fighting for insurance coverage of the therapy that they say can be life-changing but at $100-per-hour is out of many families' financial reach.
Insurance companies and business groups have raised concerns about the costs.