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OKLAHOMA CITY — Autism treatment would be included in all new health benefit plans in the state under legislation approved Wednesday by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

A sometimes emotional discussion and debate ended with a 76-20 vote reflecting a marked change on the issue by the House’s Republican majority.

House Bill 2962, by Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City, would require insurers to cover autism for children up to 9 years old, or for six years after diagnosis if the diagnosis is made after age 3.

The amount of coverage limit could be no less than $25,000 per year.

The law also would apply to children covered by Sooner Care, the state’s Medicaid program. Legislative staff estimated the cost of that portion of the bill at $22 million to the state.

Currently, health insurance plans do not generally cover autism treatment, and efforts to mandate it over the past decade have met brick walls in the Legislature. The chief point of contention has been the potential cost and resulting premium increases.