Governor Jim Doyle's office says effective immediately, health insurance companies now have to pay for the diagnosis and treatment of Autism.

Previously, the state only offered a waiver to help families pay for therapy.

That meant some had to wait months...even years to become eligible for the program.

Wausau Attorney and parent of a child with autism, Mary Sue Anderson says the new law only pays for one type of treatment--- Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy.

"ABA is backed by research and evidence based but I believe the Play based therapy is also research based and works better for some children. Both are a great approach and need to be available under the statute. "

Therapies Plus has been providing Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy to children throughout Northcentral Wisconsin for more than 10 years.

The co-owner Dr. Anna Gresch says families pay several thousand dollars a month for treatment.

She says the new law forcing insurance companies to pay for therapy will reduce the financial burden on families.

"More families will have therapy covered for them and this will be a relief for families that want to have speech and occupational therapy for their children but can't afford it right now," says Gresch, Ph.D.

The Achieve Center provides outpatient mental health services for children with Autism, their parents and their siblings.

The owner, Carol Wesley says the law will give health care providers additional resources to diagnose and treat Autism.

"What it means for us is being able to provide a greater array of services for children which could not be provided before."

Attorney Anderson says the new Law is helpful for children diagnosed with some forms of autism... But excludes others on the spectrum.

"I'm not a physician but I am a parent of a child with Autism who's diagnosis may be changing from one that is not covered to one that is... the law excludes Rett's Disorder, and Childhood Dis integrative Disorder that the DSM IV, which is the guide that Psychologists and Psychiatrists use, lists as Autism and that's problematic."

Early intervention is the best treatment of Autism and Anderson says this law will help more children get the therapy they need... faster.

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