Sunday, April 12, 2009

Timeline and Call for action on HB 3000

Timeline and Call for Action so far on Oregon House Bill 3000 (HB 3000) Sponsored by Representatives BUCKLEY, GREENLICK, C. EDWARDS; KOTEK, TOMEI, Senator BATES
Requires health insurers and state medical assistance program to reimburse for diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.

HB 3000 seeks to end autism insurance discrimination and provide children with medically necessary, evidence based treatments and therapies that they need and deserve...including ABA therapy!

TIMELINE SO FAR,


CALL FOR ACTION

We have officially kicked off autism insurance reform legislation in the state of Oregon.

The April 8 Committee hearing on HB 3000 was amazing ! Our advocates gave incredible testimony. Thanks so much to those who attended and to those who testified.

Now, YOUR HELP is URGENTLY NEEDED to get HB 3000 passed OUT OF COMMITTEE and heading toward the Oregon House floor to move the bill toward passage into law that can be a reality for Oregon's children with autism.

Here is How You Can Help:

1. CONTACT REPRESENTATIVE MITCH GREENLICK (D-33-NW Portland), CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE HEALTHCARE COMMITTEE, AND ASK HIM TO SCHEDULE A VOTE ON HB 3000!
(503) 986-1433 rep.mitchgreenlick@state.or.us

Let him know that you want HB 3000 to be able to continue through legislative process and you would like him to move for executive action and a vote on HB 3000. You are also asking him to vote YES when that vote is called.
PHONE CALLS are extremely important. Thank the Representative for his sponsorship of HB 3000, but also explain to him why this measure is so important to your family and your child with autism and take the time to FOLLOW UP by email and personalize your email in more detail.

The Chairman sets the agenda for the Committee and has a leadership role in progress of bills, so it is very important to let Rep. Greenlick know that stakeholders want this bill to be approved by the Committee and come to the floor of the legislature for a vote.

2. CONTACT ALL THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ASK THEM TO VOTE "YES" WHEN HB 3000 IS CALLED FOR A VOTE! Again, CALLS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. If you are a constituent in the member's district, BE SURE TO LET HIM OR HER KNOW. Follow up IN WRITING with a more detailed email, explaining how HB 3000 will positively impact your family! Some suggestions on talking points to highlight in your email are below.

Use the Subject Line: I support HB 3000 .

Rep. Ron Maurer (R-3-Josephine Co.)-(503) 986-1403 rep.ronmaurer@state.or.us
Rep. Scott Bruun (R-37-West Linn) - (503) 986-1437 rep.scottbruun@state.or.us
Rep. Bill Kennemer (R-39-Oregon City+) -(503) 986-1439 rep.billkennemer@state.or.us
Rep. Jim Thompson (R-23-Dallas+) - (503) 986-1423 rep.jimthompson@state.or.us
Rep. Chris Harker (D-34-Washington Co.) - (503) 986-1434 rep.chrisharker@state.or.us
Rep. Ben Cannon (D-46-Portland) - (503) 986-1446 rep.bencannon@state.or.us
Rep. Michael Dembrow (D-45-Portland) - (503) 986-1445 rep.michaeldembrow@state.or.us
Rep. Chris Garrett (D-38-Lake Oswego) - (503) 986-1438 rep.chrisgarrett@state.or.us
Rep. Tina Kotek (D-44-NE Portland) - (503) 986-1444 rep.tinakotek@state.or.us

Another option is to use the modifiable cyber-letter at AutismVotes to email the Health Care Committee members.

Suggested talking points:

  • Education and Medicaid are at the table and HB 3000 brings health insurance to the table as well in an integrated approach to treatment and medical managment of autism.
  • Autism can be compared to diabetes, cystic fibrosis, asthma, and other medical conditions diagnosed during childhood that are covered by insurance policies, and that exclusion of the medical condition of autism represents discrimination.
  • Indiana's mandate for autism insurance coverage went into effect July 2001 and reports negligible changes in insurance premiums due to this coverage. This is important, since the "cost" may be forwarded as a reason to stop the bill's progress. Many cost analyses have shown that the projected increase in premium costs will be very low, and a bargain compared to future costs of treatment and management by society and families if coverage continues to be excluded or rejected by health insurance.
  • The most commonly prescribed treatment for autism is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA at an appropriate level of intensity and duration has been endorsed by a United States Surgeon General, the New York Department of Health, the National Research Council, the Association for Science in Autism Treatment, and the American Academy of Pediatrics as an appropriate treatment modality for children with autism.
    (The report of the Oregon Health Resources Commission (HRC) in 2008 reported that data is insufficient to support ABA as a strongly evidence treatment, primarily on the basis that ABA studies use a particular research design, however other treatments in this report received even weaker evaluations).
  • YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

3. CONTACT EVERY AUTISM FAMILY, FRIEND AND ADVOCATE YOU KNOW AND URGE THEM TO ALSO TAKE ACTION ON HB 3000.

4. GO TO THE AUTISM VOTES OREGON PAGE TO USE THE "WRITE YOUR LEGISLATOR" FORM TO ALSO WRITE YOUR LEGISLATOR AND TO SIGN-UP FOR ACTION NOTICES.

Individual action is wonderful and sincerely appreciated, but in order for any grassroots movement to succeed, we must multiply our efforts and voices.
Please pass this message on to

  • Family members,
  • Co-workers,
  • Neighbors,
  • Friends, and
  • People who work with your child.

Ask them to also please take the time to make these calls and send these emails on your child's, and so many Oregon children's behalf.
Our legislative session only meets EVERY OTHER YEAR, so this is our chance and THE YEAR to end discrimination against our children when it comes to insurance coverage and join 10 other states in the nation in giving them the access to medical care that they need!


Happy Dialing!

Posted by at
Labels: ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)