NEW FOCUS is to track the events and actions related to 111th Congress bills S.819 & H.R. 2413, the Autism Treatment Acceleration Acts....Purpose of this blog originally was to track the events and developments related to the not passed Oregon House Bill 3000 (HB 3000),
Requires health insurers and state medical assistance program to reimburse for diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.
75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session
Important heads-up fromAutism Votes! An urgent action item is coming!
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
URGENT ACTION REQUEST - CALL U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER PELOSI'S OFFICE to let her know that health care reform MUST include autism insurance reform! and PASS THIS MESSAGE FORWARD. THANK YOU!
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." ------------ --------- -------
Today, Autism Speaks has launched its first national television advocacy campaign, "Neighbors", aimed at reaching millions of informed and politically active Americans and asking them to call Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and tell them that ending autism insurance discrimination must be part of Health Care Reform Legislation.
Autismvotesis alerting that phone calls from ALL autism families AND those of friends and extended family are crucial for our issue to be taken seriously and included in Health Care Reform. This is an opportunity that has huge significance for our children. The phone-in campaign kicks off TODAY and will be ongoing until autism insurance reform is included in health reform.
“Neighbors" depicts the consequences of insurance company discrimination against individuals with autism and calls on the American public to urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to end autism insurance discrimination in the upcoming health care reform legislation.
1. CALL HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA) & SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID (D-NV) AT THE PHONE NUMBERS BELOW!
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: (202) 225-0100
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: (202) 224-3542
If you aren't sure of what to say, 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. People with autism deserve coverage for the treatments and therapies that will help their medical condition. Thank you."
Be patient. Be polite. Keep dialing until you get through to them. Then do it again.
IMPORTANT: Make sure to add some personal information on why this is such an important issue for you and your family. Be sure to let them know that all children with autism from coast to coast deserve appropriate insurance coverage.
3. IMPORTANT: FORWARD THIS ACTION ALERT ACROSS THE COUNTRY!
Put this action alert on your Facebook page, Twitter it, forward to Yahoo groups and local support groups. Forward this email to at least 20 people that do NOT have a child with autism - neighbors, extended family, coworkers, old college and high school friends - and ask them to make these two calls every day for your child
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The health care reform debate in this country is reaching a fever pitch. Autism insurance reform can and MUST be included in the final health care reform bill that President Obama has stated he will sign by the end of October. THIS IS THE TIME to end autism insurance discrimination once and for all. Our children have a medical condition which deserves appropriate treatment, therapy and care. Congress needs to know that health care “reform” that fails to stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable.
To stay updated on this initiative and more, register at
Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, has launched a new national television advertising campaign highlighting private insurers blatant discrimination against children with autism and calling on the U.S. Congress to put an end to it as part of the broader health care reform effort. The thirty-second ad, Neighbors, will air nationally on CNN, CNBC, and MSNBC. '
A. States with passed legislation or statute that specify autism insurance reform, current as of July 1, 2009.
15 STATES
Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey [pending signature], New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin
B. States that would have that coverage if S. 819 and/or H.R. 2413 , the Autism Treatment Acceleration Acts pass in the 111th Congress. (In addition to pilot programs for teen transition and adult services).
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Don't forget to see the recent post on the CURRENT ACTION ITEM to contact our Oregon Delegation to Congress and urge their support of the ATAA. Thank you for your participation and action!
Don't forget to see the recent post on the CURRENT ACTION ITEM to contact our Oregon Delegation to Congress and urge their support of the ATAA. Thank you for your action and your support!
This week, Autism Speaks is launching a major ad campaign supporting federal autism insurance reform with the goal to be the LOUDEST VOICE ON CAPITOL HILL and move these bills forward.
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS VITAL.
All of our voices are needed to make sure this ad hits home for Oregon's Congressional Delegation! In a state with one of the highest prevalence rates in the nation, it is imperative that they sign on and help our kids.
This ad campaign is being placed in various publications to raise awareness about the need for CONGRESS TO ACT on Federal autism insurance reform and for members of Congress TO BECOME CO-SPONSORS of the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act (ATAA), S. 819 in the U.S. Senate, and H.R. 2413 in the U.S. House of Representatives.
One key provision of the ATAA requires insurance companies from COAST TO COAST to provide coverage of medically necessary autism treatments, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.
Let's make sure that OUR Senators and Representatives SEE THIS AD OVER AND OVER AGAIN and HEAR FROM FAMILIES and friends of families affected by autism--EACH DAY THIS WEEK!
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HOW YOU CAN HELP in 4 steps Download-Fax-Follow up -Forward
2.FAX a personalized copy of the ad to our Federal Senators and House District Representatives!
After printing out a copy of the ad, find a good spot on the ad itself, or on a separate sheet of paper, to write a short personal message asking your Senators and House Representative to cosponsor thes bills, S.819 in the Senate and H.R. 2413 in the House.
BE SURE to include the bill number in your message.
Neither of our federal Senators, Sen. Ron Wyden and Sen. Jeff Merkley, nor any other member of the Oregon Delegation to Congress has yet agreed to co-sponsor ATAA - S. 819/H.R. 2413, even though Representatives DeFazio, Wu and Blumenauer are members of the Congressional Autism Caucus.
Representative David Wu [District 1-Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, Yamhill and part of Multnomah.] Fax: 202-225-9497 Phone: 202-225-0855
Representative Greg Walden [District 2-Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Grants Pass area of Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco and Wheeler.] Fax: 202-225-5774 Phone: 202-225-6730
Representative Earl Blumenauer [District 3-Most of Multnomah and northern part of Clackamas] Fax: 202-225-8941 Phone: 202-225-4811
Representative Peter DeFazio [District 4-Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, Linn, most of Benton and Josephine.] Fax: 202-225-0032 Phone: 202-225-6416
Representative Kurt Schrader [District 5-All of Lincoln, Marion, Polk and Tillamook, parts of northern Benton, most of Clackamas and parts of southwestern Multnomah] Fax: 202-225-5699 Phone: 202-225-5711
3. Follow up with a phone call saying,
"Hi. My name is ________________. I am your constituent and live in (City, STATE). I am calling to be sure that you received a copy of the advertisement that I faxed to your office regarding the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act. I would like Senator/Congressman(Name) to cosponsor this important piece of legislation. The bill number is S. 819(if you are calling a Senator) or H.R. 2413 (if you are calling a House Representative). Thank you so much. I will keep checking back to see if he/she has signed on because this is very important to me."
4. Forward this to as many people as you can, and ask them to do the same thing! THEY DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A CHILD WITH AUTISM. Post on message boards in your state or forward to coworkers, neighbors, friends and family and ask them to help you help your child by pressing for appropriate insurance coverage for the premiums you pay!
Spread the word, get people involved and watch our Representatives really start to sign up to help!
The below request has been sent out by Autism Votes, and never was a truer word said than,
"Health insurance reform is the buzz word in Washington, DC right now. We need to generate thousands of calls to be sure that our children's needs for access to the treatments and therapies that will help them are being heard!"
"We are ramping up our grassroots efforts for the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act and need your immediate attention and support on this issue!
You are receiving this email because you live in a state that worked hard this year to pass autism insurance reform at a state level. Your state legislative efforts have come to an end and you made significant gains this year! Congratulations on all your hard work.
Through this piece of federal legislation, we have the opportunity to end autism insurance discrimination once and for all from coast to coast!
We need your help to do that by calling the following people each day this week!
Health insurance reform is the buzz word in Washington, DC right now. We need to generate thousands of calls to be sure that our children's needs for access to the treatments and therapies that will help them are being heard!
1. CALL YOUR SENATORS IN CONGRESS AND ASK THEM TO CO-SPONSOR THE ATAA (Senate Bill 819)!You can find out who your senators are HERE - be sure to check here to see if they have already decided to co-sponsor the ATAA prior to calling by checking the list of co-sponsors. Your Senators have received a Dear Colleague letter from the bill's original sponsors which you can read here.
2. CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND ASK THEM TO CO-SPONSOR THE ATAA (H.R. 2413)!You can find out who your Congressman is HERE. Be sure to check here to see if they have already agreed to co-sponsor the legislation before you call them.
Not sure of what to say? It's easy! Just say this:
"Hi! My name is ____________. I am a constituent of yours and live in (City,State). I am calling to ask you to cosponsor the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act (give the appropriate bill number - Senate is S. 819 and House is H.R. 2413). We worked very hard to pass similar legislation as this in our state but were not able to do so this session. We need your help to end autism insurance discrimination. Thank you so much."
3. FORWARD THIS TO 20 OTHER PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP YOU! If you have ever heard someone say, "I wish there was something we could do to help (insert your child's name here)!", now they can. It is a cost effective way to truly help your child and the other children with autism not only in your state, but nationwide.
First of all, I want to thank every last parent, family and supporter who threw their all into working on behalf of the passage of HB 3000, Oregon's Autism Insurance Reform Bill, by their articles, letters, testimony, talking to legislators and phone calls. Most bills do not make it as far as HB3000 did, and we gave it a good run and raised awareness of our kids and our issues!
Monday, June 8 was the last day for a hearing to be scheduled for HB 3000 in the Oregon House Rules Committee if it was going to continue in the legislative process. That hearing was not scheduled.
At this point the attention of this blog, and I hope your attention as a supporter of insurance fairness for our kids will shift to the Autism Treatment Acceleration Acts of 2009 in the U.S. Congress, which no doubt many already know about,
S. 819 :A bill to provide for enhanced treatment, support, services, and research for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
&
H.R. 2413, To provide for enhanced treatment, support, services, and research for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
There are many fine opportunities that will be created for children, adults and families living with autism if these measures can pass in this 111th Congress, and one of them is the insurance fairness that we have been seeking on a state-by-state basis.
There'll be more to come in future posts, but for now I would like to point you to
the sidebar of this blog which has quicklinks to the texts and status of S. 819, H.R. 2413, as well as the TRICARE autism insurance bills specific to military families, H.R. 1600 and S. 1169 , and
Again, thank you for the good fight on Oregon HB3000, your continued work on S. 819 and H.R. 2413, and for your continued support of improving things for our children and our families.
IMPORTANT UPDATE!!
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The Senate Health Policy Commttee will meet TUES 3/6/12 at noon to once
again consider the autism insurance reform bills, but is NOT expected to
vote. Don'...
