In an emotional speech, Del. Mark Hunt, D-Kanawha, urged fellow members of the West Virginia House of Delegates to support a bill that would help those, especially children, with autism.

House Bill 4410 would require health insurance companies to cover autism spectrum disorders up to $30,000 a year. Coverage for autism conditions are currently not mandated. Autism spectrum disorders include Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

According to Autism Speaks, an advocacy group, nearly one in every 110 children are diagnosed with disorders within the autism spectrum. The prevalence rate for autism is growing at about 10-17 percent each year.

South Carolina recently passed a similar bill, requiring the state to cover children with autism at $50,000 a year until age 16.

West Virginia‘s bill is co-sponsored by Hunt; Tim Miley, D-Harrison; Barbara Hatfield, D-Kanawha; Orphey Klempa, D-Ohio; Virginia Mahan, D-Summers; Tim Manchin, D-Marion; Clif Moore, D-McDowell; Jim Morgan, D-Cabell; Don Perdue, D-Wayne; and Samuel Cann, D-Harrison.

Listen to the full audio from Hunt’s speech below:

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