SPECTRUM CONNECTION

By Toni Lapp

As Missourians prepare for another round in the push to pass autism legislation, they might better scrutinize the actions of their lawmakers.

Namely, those of House Speaker Ron Richard, R-Joplin, who successfully scuttled Senate Bill 167 last spring. That legislation would have required insurers to cover up to $55,000 a year for autistic children under 15 to receive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy – an effective, evidence-based treatment.
» READ MORE

By Julius Karash

Health insurance coverage surfaced as a key issue at a hearing Tuesday by the Missouri House of Representatives Interim Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorders. The 3-hour hearing was held at UMKC School of Medicine.

Much of the testimony, by parents and experts in the field, focused on lack of insurance coverage for therapies such as Applied Behavior Analysis – an effective, evidence-based treatment. ABA treatments are expensive, costing tens of thousands of dollars a year. But the improvements derived from these treatments can save more than $2 million in care and special services over the life of a person with autism.

» READ MORE

By Julius Karash

Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt of Glendale said Saturday that he will press on with the fight to obtain health insurance coverage for autism treatments.

“What we’re fighting for with these therapies is the difference between whether or not a dad can take his son to a baseball game, or the difference between whether or not that child can have meaningful friendships with other kids,” Schmitt, the father of a five-year-old boy with autism, said at an autism insurance reform rally at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing.
» READ MORE

 By Julius Karash

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon kicked some well-deserving butts on behalf of the autism world today.

Nixon exercised his boots while signing HB 525 and SB 157 along with sponsors Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, and Rep. Jeff Grisamore, R-Lee’s Summit. The two bills codify into law existing autism support through five regional centers.
» READ MORE

By Toni Lapp

Leaders in the autism community are urging voters to speak up on the health-care debate — specifically, to contact lawmakers who will be key to crafting health-care reform legislation.

“Autism insurance reform can and should be included in the final health care reform bill that President Obama has stated he will sign by the end of October,” writes Elizabeth Emken, vice president of government relations for Autism Speaks, in a blast e-mail to members. “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.”
» READ MORE

» READ MORE

Gov. Jay Nixon marked Autism Awareness month by announcing his strong support last week for the passage of legislation that would require health insurance providers to cover treatments and therapies for Missourians afflicted with autism. Citing the growing number of autism diagnoses, Gov. Nixon called on the legislature to pass a bill that ensures Missourians with health care coverage have access to treatments for autism and related conditions.
» READ MORE