"A tactic used by insurance companies to deny expensive behavioral therapy to autistic children has been deemed illegal by a Los Angeles judge..."
Dear Autism Advocate,
HEALTH CARE REFORM UPDATE: Things are moving VERY quickly in the House now with health care reform and we need you to be ready to act at a moment's notice and give it everything you've got!
Last night, The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed an autism amendment offered by Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA), Chairman of the Congressional Autism Caucus and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to H.R. 3200, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 - the House health care reform bill that is currently undergoing markup in the Energy and Commerce Committee. His amendment would set up national training initiatives on autism.
We anticipate that Congressman Doyle will introduce a very important amendment to the bill tomorrow that will SEEK TO END AUTISM INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION ONCE AND FOR ALL.
When that happens, we will need you to be ready to call following our direction AS FAST AND FURIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE.
We will need to make a loud statement that want this amendment to be attached to the bill.
Our children deserve appropriate healthcare that provides them with access to the medical treatments and therapies that can help them live more productive and fulfilling lives. Keep every one of them in mind as we make our way through this next stage in the process. They are counting on you!
Stay Tuned!
Elizabeth Emken
Vice President, Govenment Relations
Autism Speaks
Washington, DC (July 16, 2009) -- In his opening remarks during the House Energy and Commerce Committee markup of HR 3200, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, Congressman Mike Doyle (PA-14), chair of the Congressional Autism Caucus, pledged that any bill that does not put an end to autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable.
"...Autism Speaks is constantly adapting a strategy to give us the best chance of making this [autism insurance reform in health care reform] happen. The strategy may change every hour or it may appear redundant but there is a "method to the madness". The important thing is that as the troops, we stay alert and be ready to act when we get our mission plans..."
"Thursday, July 16 2009
Autism is relentless. In order to effect a change at the national level, we must be relentless too.
The government relations team at Autism Speaks is monitoring the health care reform issue in D.C. very closely. A health care reform bill is going to pass - likely in the next several weeks. The issues we face as families affected by autism must be addressed in this bill.
Autism Speaks is constantly adapting a strategy to give us the best chance of making this happen. The strategy may change every hour or it may appear redundant but there is a "method to the madness". The important thing is that as the troops, we stay alert and be ready to act when we get our mission plans.
Today's mission
Make two phone calls.
Call Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at the phone numbers below:
Speaker Pelosi (202) 225-0100
Majority Leader Reid (202) 224-3542
Just say this:
"Hi, My name is ____________ ___. I am calling from (Your city, your state). I want you to know that health care reform that does not stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable. Thank you."
Be patient. Be polite. Keep dialing until you get through to them. Then do it again. If the voice mail box is full, call back and request that the receptionist take a message. Please send this message on to 15 other people.
Thanks and stay tuned!Michael Wasmer, DVM
Founder, The Kansas Coalition for Autism Legislation (KCAL)
Autism Speaks Kansas Chapter Advocacy Chairwww.autismvotes.org
From Autismvotes"The health reform ship has sailed and autism insurance reform is
currently NOT ON IT.
U.S. H.R. 3200 is currently IN MARK UP and our hope of achieving autism insurance reform for children with autism as part of the larger health reform initiative WILL REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT to the Resolution.
NOW MORE THAN EVER IS THE TIME TO,CALL U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Office at
202-225-0100
and tell her office that health insurance reform that does not stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable.
You must get 20 people in your life MINIMUM to start calling NOW, and you must keep the PRESSURE UP and keep the PRESSURE ON if you want to see this for your children.
All you have to say is this simple message:
"Hi. My name is ________. I believe that health insurance that does not stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable and I am counting on Speaker Pelosi to be sure that children with autism have appropriate coverage for the treatments and therapies they deserve access to for their medical condition. Thank you."
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"...Guaranteed insurance would make a significant difference to people like Valerie Goodness, a firefighter in Corvallis, Oregon, who was forced to leave her job because of her 13-year-old son's autism. When her employer changed insurance companies, the new one refused to cover his "pre-existing condition" -- a common dodge regarded as one of the system's great iniquities [sic].From
Now, if she earns more than $1,000 (€717) a month, she will lose the insurance provided by Medicaid, a state programme for the poor.
"And there is no way I could earn a job that would pay enough for private nursing at $20 to $30 an hour," said Mrs. Goodness.
"I feel like I am forced into poverty just so I can get insurance..."
