NEWSFLASH: Texas Legislature Passes Expansion of Insurance Coverage for Children with Autism!

F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E

Texas Legislature Passes Expansion Of Insurance Coverage for Texas Children with Autism
Effective Date: May 31, 2009
Contact: Mike Bernoski, Executive Director
512-402-5842 Phone;
media@texasautismadvocacy.org

Austin, Texas – The Texas legislature showed their support today for families by passing a measure to expand the age of mandatory insurance coverage for children with autism from the time of diagnosis to the 10th birthday. HB 451 expands on the existing law passed in 2007 which requires coverage for generally recognized autism services, including Applied Behavior Analysis. Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder celebrated today and are urging the Governor [Perry] to sign this bill into law.

“It is hard to appreciate how much effort on the part of so many goes into passing a bill of this nature,” said Mike Bernoski, Executive Director of Texas Autism Advocacy. “The broad bipartisan support shows that Republicans and Democrats alike understand this is a family issue, and it moves Texas a significant step forward in its response to the growing crisis of autism.”

This is Texas Autism Advocacy’s second successful push to secure better insurance coverage for children with autism.

This legislation, authored by representatives Dr. Alma Allen (D-Houston), Eddie Lucio III (D-Brownsville) , and Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston), and carried in the Senate by Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr (D-Brownsville) , author of the existing law which has been in effect since January 1, 2008, was a welcome relief to parents whose children were excluded by the first law because they were either too old or too young or the child of a teacher.

Taxpayers have something to cheer about as well. By expanding the number of children covered, the bill will triple the existing law’s $1.35 billion in lifetime savings to a projected $4.06 billion over the next 50 years.

“One in 150 children is diagnosed with autism. If we do not take care of our children now, we as Texans will suffer later,” Rep. Allen explained. “This bill will help the hardest working in Texas - those that deal with the challenges of raising a child with autism.”

“Early intervention has proven to be able to turn a child’s life completely around,” commented Senator Eddie Lucio Jr., “Now that we have a better understanding of the associated costs and benefits it is time to take the next step".

The Texas bill remains the only state insurance reform that has no dollar caps on the stipulated coverage which includes diagnostic testing, speech, OT, PT, as well as medical and behavior therapies.

Parents and teachers are eager for Governor Perry to sign the bill into law. This bill does not affect ERISA, Medicaid, or CHIP plans, however efforts are underway to address these plans as well.

To learn more about legislation and other initiatives, please visit www.texasautismadvocacy.org.

Texas Autism Advocacy’s mission: To seek to create systemic change by identifying practical solutions that will positively affect the lives of people affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders.

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--"Don't mess with Texas". Congratulations.--

ACTION ALERT: The moment to ACT on HB 3000 is NOW!

Dear Oregon Autism Families and Advocates,

Our state of Oregon has a legislative session every two years.
This Spring, states all around us -

• New Mexico,
• Montana,
• Colorado and, as recently as this past weekend,
• Nevada,

have passed autism insurance reform legislation to provide their states' children with autism access to therapy coverage through health insurance.

Unless we get some significant traction on Oregon HB 3000 NOW, Oregon's children with autism will have to wait another two years before reform legislation can even be introduced again. HB 3000 provides coverage for medically necessary, evidence based therapies and treatments prescribed by your child's treating physician including ABA therapy, speech and OT.

Today is the moment to ACT to get HB 3000 out of the House Rules Committee and onto the floor of the Oregon House so that the legislative process can continue. It is very easy and only takes five minutes of your time each day--everyone's help is needed!

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN HELP!

1. CONTACT HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN REPRESENTATIVE ARNIE ROBLAN AT 503-986-1409 and ask him to give HB 3000 priority for a hearing!

Not sure of what to say? Just say this:

"Hi, my name is _________________. I live in ______________, Oregon. I am calling to ask that you allow a hearing and vote on HB 3000, the autism insurance reform bill. Thank you so much."

2. CONTACT SPEAKER DAVE HUNT AT 503-986-1200 and ask him to ask Chairman Roblan to hold a hearing for HB 3000.
Speaker Hunt pulled HB 3000 out of the House Health Committee and placed it in the Rules Committee on our behalf--he gave this bill a fighting chance when we needed it, but we might need his help again to keep it on the move!

Not sure of what to say? Just say this:

"Hi, my name is ______________. I live in __________, Oregon. I want to thank you for giving the autism insurance reform bill, HB 3000, a second chance to become a law this session. I am calling to ask you to please speak to Chairman Roblan of the Rules Committee and urge him to move HB 3000 to a hearing so that it can make its way to the House Floor for a vote. Thank you so much!"

3. PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN.

Ask them to do the same thing and call Chairman Roblan and Speaker Hunt. They don't have to have a child with autism. They only need to be willing to help, able to dial a phone and say something along the lines of what we have posted above! Send the message to your child's teachers and therapists, your neighbors and coworkers, your family members and friends.

Your goal is to get this request into the hands of at least 20 people you know who will make the calls to support your family, your child and other Oregon children with autism!

For more information on HB 3000, visit www.autismvotes.org/Oregon.

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Happy Dialing! Thank you for your support of Oregon's children with autism!

SIDEBAR: States with insurance coverage or bills in progress

States with insurance coverage for autism treatment, including ABA

2001: Indiana, Minnesota
2007: South Carolina
2008: Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Arizona
2009: New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Connecticut.


View States with insurance coverage of ABA in a larger map

Key:
Status of insurance coverage of behavior analysis for children with autism.
Green = passed bill/law
Red = bill in progress or previously introduced
Purple = bill waiting for endorsement by autism votes or introduction
Yellow = bill in progress
Blue = little activity at this time.

For more information, see Autismvotes

NEWSFLASH: Connecticut passes autism reform bill

CT Substitute Bill No. 301 passed in the House by roll call vote, has been approved by both legislative houses and now goes to enrollment and the CT governor for signature.

Vote for SB-301 Roll Call Number 307
Taken on 05/27/09 AS AMENDED
The Speaker ordered the vote be taken by roll call at 10:12 p.m.
Yes 140, Nay 2. Number required for passage: 72

Substitute Bill No. 301
January Session, 2009 *_____SB00301APP___041609____*

AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.

12 (3) "Behavioral therapy" means interactive therapies derived from
13 evidence-based research that are provided to children less than
14 thirteen years of age, including, but not limited to, applied behavior
15 analysis that is provided or supervised by a behavior analyst who is
16 certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.

FULL TEXT OF THE SUBSTITUTE BILL
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/s/pdf/2009SB-00301-R03-SB.pdf

Status and all info,
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=301&which_year=2009&SUBMIT1.x=0&SUBMIT1.y=0&SUBMIT1=Normal

NEWSFLASH: Nevada Passes Autism Insurance Reform Bill

5/29/09: AB 162 Signed into law.
Autism Coalition of Nevada
Legislative Actions
Governor Gibbons Signs AB 162!
-----------------------

Nevada just passed an autism insurance reform bill, AB 162. Besides allowing families to access reimbursible treatment of autism, the amended bill (amendment 699) also specified competencies and licensing of those providing behavioral treatment. The bill has been sent to the Nevada Governor to await his signature.

Bill text and status is accessible after the newsblurb.

"Nevada passes autism bill
By CATHY BUSSEWITZ Associated Press Writer
Posted: 05/23/2009 03:13:14 PM PDT
Updated: 05/23/2009 04:38:11 PM PDT

CARSON CITY, Nev.—Nevada lawmakers gave final approval Saturday to help children with autism by requiring health insurers to cover screening and treatment of the disorder..."

FULL POST San Jose [CA] Mercury News
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12437455

The text of the bill passed,

AB162	Requires certain policies of health insurance and health care plans to provide coverage for screening for and treatment of autism. (BDR 57-44)
	Introduced On: Feb 12, 2009
	By: Ohrenschall Buckley Leslie Woodbury Conklin Aizley Anderson Arberry Atkinson Bobzien Carpenter Christensen Claborn Denis Dondero Loop Goicoechea Grady Hambrick Hardy Hogan Horne Kihuen Kirkpatrick Koivisto Manendo Mastroluca McClain Mortenson Munford Oceguera Parnell Pierce Segerblom Smith Stewart Horsford Schneider Lee Wiener Townsend Amodei Breeden Care Carlton Coffin Copening Nolan Parks Rhoads Woodhouse
	Most Recent History Action: May 23, 2009 - Enrolled and delivered to Governor.

ACTION ALERT: HB 3000 may be going to hearing! Calls needed NOW!

An ACTION ALERT from Autism Votes to CALL
the members of the Oregon House Rules Committee.

"...it is possible that HB 3000 [insurance reform bill] will be heard in the Oregon House Rules Committee THIS WEEK. We need to refresh our Representatives' minds about autism insurance reform and ask them to vote YES on HB 3000..."

See full message below for phone numbers and followup.
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5/19/09 Autism Votes... It's time for lawmakers to listen.

Dear Oregon Autism Advocate,

It has been a while since we sent out a reminder but we just heard that it is possible that HB 3000 will be heard in the Rules Committee this week. We need to refresh our Representatives minds about autism insurance reform and ask them to vote YES on HB 3000.

We must pass the Rules Committee and then HB 3000 is on it's way to the House floor for a vote and one step closer to becoming a law! If the bill does not get out of the Rules Committee, we will not be able to get appropriate coverage for our children until the next session in 2011.

We need your help to make some noise and let the committee know how very much you want this bill to pass on through the legislative process! They are hearing from the insurance companies...they need to hear from you!

Here is How You Can Help:

1. CONTACT THE MEMBERS OF THE RULES COMMITTEE AND ASK THEM TO VOTE YES FOR HB 3000! We need you to contact the following people each day until we tell you to stop and ask them to vote YES on HB 3000. If you are a constituent, be sure to let them know.

> CALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE! Calls are way more important than emails. They need to hear your voices and we need their phones ringing off the hook!

Representative Arnie Roblan, Chair - 503-986-1409
Representative Vicki Berger - 503-986-1420
Representative Chris Edwards - 503-986-1414
Representative Bill Garrard - 503-986-1456
Representative Sara Gelser - 503-986-1416
Representative Bob Jenson - 503-986-1458
Representative Mary Nolan - 503-986-1436
Representative Tobias Read - 503-986-1427

Not sure what to say? It's easy! Just say:

"Hi! My name is _________________________. I am calling to ask Representative _____________ to vote YES on HB 3000 and to allow HB 3000 to go to the House Floor for a vote. Thank you so much!"

> CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW UP WITH AN EMAIL TO ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS! You don't need to know their email addresses, our system will send the email for you. It's easy!

2. MULTIPLY YOUR EFFORTS BY RECRUITING 20 PEOPLE YOU KNOW TO CALL TOO -- JUST FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO THEM! We need to multiply our grassroots efforts exponentially over the course of the next few days and generate thousands of calls. Please forward this to anyone who can help make calls to the committee to ask them to vote YES for HB 3000. They do not have to have a child with autism to be supportive! Think outside the box to neighbors, family members, friends, coworkers - anyone you know who lives in Oregon who would make these calls for your child.


For more information on HB 3000 visit www.autismvotes.org/Oregon!

Keep dialing Oregon. Let's get this done for our kids this year!

Shelley Hendrix
Director of State Advocacy Relations
Autism Speaks

NEWSFLASH: Actuarial Cost Estimate for HB 3000

Don't forget that HB 3000 is in the House Rules Committee--
we need to keep contacting them!
Also see the "FAQs when talking to elected officials".
Thanks for your efforts in supporting HB 3000.
------------------
May 18, 2009
Actuarial Cost Estimate: Oregon House Bill 3000
[if you have difficulty downloading or viewing the cost estimate: try this link]
A Bill for an Act Relating to Autism Spectrum
Disorder- Creating New Provisions and
Amending ORS 414.710 and 743A.190

OLIVER WYMAN
Prepared By:
Marc Lambright, FSA, MAAA
25 Pages.

See also, Oregon's page at Autism Votes
http://www.autismvotes.org/Oregon

OWACORReportHB3000May182009

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