Florida governor signs autism health insurance coverage bill

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has signed legislation that could force many large insurance plans to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism. The new law calls for health insurance companies to negotiate agreements with the state on how they will cover autism-related disorders. If companies don't enter into such agreements, the state will require certain coverages by July of 2009. The coverage is capped at $36,000 a year, or $200,000 over a lifetime.