ASA-ASO ACTION ALERT: Autism Insurance Coverage is close - Help Now!

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend of ASA-ASO:

Autism Insurance Coverage is closer than ever to becoming a reality! Now it the time to contact key legislators and ask them to support this issue! Time is of the essence!Autism Insurance Coverage language has been included in the House version of the Ohio Budget Bill, Sub. H.B. 1 "to prohibit health insurers from excluding coverage for specified services for individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder." This language will require private healthcare policies to provide coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It will cover applied behavior analysis (ABA) and other medically necessary treatments prescribed by an insured's treating physician or psychologist.However, the autism insurance coverage language was deleted from the Senate version of the bill!Because the versions of HB 1 passed by the House and the Senate are different, the bill now goes to a Conference Committee made up of legislators from both chambers and both parties to resolve the differences between the two versions. Your help is needed NOW to let these legislators know how important it is to include autism insurance coverage in the final version of the budget!Please contact the leadership of the House, Speaker Armond Budish, and the Senate, President Bill and ask them to support the inclusion of the language addressing autism insurance coverage in the final version of the budget bill. Also, please contact any or all of the legislators listed at the end of this email who are part of the conference committee or in leadership - especially if you are a constituent:

Use the following points to support your position:- Autism impacts a significant number of legislators constituents, an estimated 1 in 150 born in Ohio will have autism- Autism is a medical condition and it is treatable- Without insurance coverage, many children forego services because Many families can’t afford therapy without insurance. - Individuals with autism who don’t receive services are often dependent upon publicly funded state services throughout their lifetime.- The cost of this legislation is very small - estimated at less than a 1% increase - and will generate significant savings. - The autism insurance coverage language included in the budget contains a cost cap for insurers, a yearly limit of $36,000 in covered services and oversight for providers.

- Thirteen other states have passed autism insurance coverage including Colorado and Connecticut just this month.

- Share a personal story and why this legislation is important to you

Call or email as soon as possible!

A sample letter follows that you can use as a letter, email or script for a phone call.

The Autism Society of America-Ohio Chapter, the Ohio Alliance for Autism Insurance Reform and other groups are also working with these legislators to make autism insurance coverage a part of the budget bill. But our efforts will not be successful without your help.

Please contact these legislators today - especially if you are a constituent! Also, please share this with anyone you think might be willing to help with this effort. Help us make autism insurance coverage a reality in Ohio.

Sincerely,

Autism Society of America - Autism Society of Ohio Chapter701 S. Main St.Akron, OH 44311(330) 376-0211fax: (330) 376-1226general email: askASO@...web: www.autismohio.org

SAMPLE EMAIL or LETTER

Add a short personal impact story to the letter after the bullet points.

Date

The Honorable________________________

Address

Re: Autism Insurance Coverage Language in Sub. HB 1

Dear Representative or Senator _______________________

I am writing to ask for your support of Autism Insurance Coverage in Sub. HB 1, introduced to prohibit health insurers from excluding coverage for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism Insurance Coverage in Sub. HB 1 will cover applied behavior analysis (ABA) and other medically necessary treatments prescribed by an insured's treating physician or psychologist. In the absence of coverage, and understanding the importance of early and effective intervention, families often pay as much as they can afford out of pocket for these critical treatments, risking their homes and futures in these tough economic times.

Please consider the following:

- Autism impacts a significant number of your constituents, an estimated 1 in 150 born in Ohio will have autism- Autism is a medical condition and it is treatable- Without insurance coverage, many children forego services because many families can’t afford therapy without insurance. - Individuals with autism who don’t receive services are often dependent upon publicly funded state services throughout their lifetime.- The cost of this legislation is very small - estimated at less than a 1% increase - and will generate significant savings. - The autism insurance coverage language included in the bill contains a cost cap for insurers, a yearly limit of $36,000 in covered services and oversight for providers. - Thirteen other states have passed autism insurance coverage including Colorado and Connecticut just this month.

Sub. HB 1 is currently under deliberation in Conference Committee. I am asking that you do what you can to make sure that the autism insurance coverage language remains in Sub. HB 1 and is passed by the full General Assembly. This legislation will go a long way toward ensuring that children with ASD have access to early intervention in order to substantially enhance their quality of life. AUTISM is TREATABLE.

Sincerely,

Your NameYour AddressCity, State ZIP

Conference Committee

Statehouse Phone

Statehouse Address

Email

Party

Aide's Name

House Conferees

Rep. Vernon Sykes

614-466-3100

Riffe Center 13th Floor 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district44@...

D

Lubna Naijjar

Rep. Jay Goyal

614-466-5802

Riffe Center 14th Floor 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district73@...

D

Dominic Paretti

Rep. Ron Amstutz

614-466-1474

Riffe Center 10th Floor 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district03@...

R

Senate Conferees

Senator Carey

614-466-8156

Statehouse 1st Floor N. Rm. 127, Columbus, OH 43215

sd17@...

R

Padgett

Senator Mark Wagoner

614-466-8060

Statehouse 1st Floor N. Rm. 129, Columbus, OH 43215

SD02@...

R

Brad Barger

Senator Dale

614-466-5123

Statehouse Ground Floor S. Rm. 048, Columbus, OH 43215

sd23@...

D

Sally Rickert

House Leadership

Statehouse Phone

Statehouse Address

Email

Party

Aide's Name

Speaker Armond Budish

614-466-5441

Riffe Center 14th Floor 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district08@...

D

Tim Yanok

Speaker Pro Tem Matt Szollosi

614-466-1418

Riffe Center 14th Floor 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district49@...

D

Barb Brisbane

Rep. Garrison

614-644-8728

Riffe Center 14th Floor 77 South Hight Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district93@...

D

Phil DeSenze

Assist. Majority Floor Maxwell Heard

614-466-8010

Riffe Center 14th Floor 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district26@...

D

Loren Anthes

Rep. Jay Goyal

614-466-5802

Riffe Center 14th Floor 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district73@...

D

Dominic Paretti

Assist. Majority Whip Allan R. Sayre

614-466-8035

Riffe Center 14th Floor 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district96@...

D

Rep. Bill Batchelder

614-466-8140

Riffe Center 14th Floor 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district69@...

R

Slonaker

Assist. Minority Leader Louis Blessing, Jr.

614-466-9091

Riffe Center 14th Floor 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district29@...

R

Spencer

Minority Whip

614-466-1507

Riffe Center 14th Floor 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district78@...

R

Kara ph

Assist. Minority Whip Kris Jordan

614-644-6711

Riffe Center 14th Floor 77 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

district02@...

R

Chichelli

Senate Leadership

Statehouse Phone

Statehouse Address

Email

Party

Aide's Name

President Bill

614-466-8086

Statehouse 2nd Floor Rm. 201, Columbus, OH 43215

sd19@...

R

McMahon

President Pro Tempore Tom Niehaus

614-466-8082

Statehouse 2nd Floor N. Rm. 220, Columbus, OH 43215

sd14@...

R

Trisha Whatley

Majority Floor Leader Faber

614-466-7584

Statehouse 1st Floor S. Rm. 138, Columbus, OH 43215

sd12@...

R

Nate Aichle

Majority Whip Mark Wagoner

614-466-8060

Statehouse 1st Floor N. Rm. 129, Columbus, OH 43215

SD02@...

R

Brad Barger

Minority Leader Capri Cafaro

614-466-7182

Statehouse 3rd Floor Rm. 303, Columbus, OH 43215

senatorcafaro@...

D

Chicatelli

Assist. Minority Leader Shirley

614-466-4857

Statehouse 2nd Floor N. Rm. 223, Columbus, OH 43215

senatorsmith@...

D

Ed Stockhausen

Minority Whip Ray

614-466-5131

Statehouse 2nd Floor N. Rm. 228, Columbus, OH 43215

rmiller@...

D

Caryn Ragin

Assist. Minority Whip

614-466-6508

Statehouse Ground Floor Rm. 050, Columbus, OH 43215

senatorwilson@...

D

Dell Deals: Don't miss huge summer savings on popular laptops starting at $449.