NC S676

Requires health benefit plans to provide coverage for screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder, effective July 1, 2016.

Covers adaptive behavior treatment, pharmacy care, psychiatric care, psychological care, and therapeutic care for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when ordered by a licensed physician or psychologist.

Limits adaptive behavior treatment coverage to a maximum of $40,000 per year for individuals 18 years of age or younger, with annual indexing to the Consumer Price Index beginning in 2017.

Prohibits insurers from terminating coverage or refusing to issue, amend, or renew policies solely because an individual is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or has received treatment for it.

Excludes autism spectrum disorder from the definition of "mental illness" in mental health parity statutes and updates diagnostic references from DSM-IV to DSM-5.