ASA-ASO Alert: Autism Insurance Parity Update - HB 8 Press Conference

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend of ASA-ASO: HB 8, legislation requiring insurance companies to cover the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders, was introduced in the Ohio House last week by Reps. Ted Celeste (D-Columbus) and Garland (D-Columbus)! The bill currently has 27 co-sponsors and has been assigned to the House Healthcare Access and Affordability Committee. We expect committee hearings to be scheduled sometime within the next three weeks. For the complete bill, visit http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_HB_8. ASA-ASO is also updating all of our handouts, webpage, etc. related to HB 8, so check back soon! This Friday, Reps. Celeste and Garland will be holding a press conference to announce the introduction of HB 8. The press conference will be held at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Downtown Columbus, Room 131 of the Education Building, 575 South 18th St. A visitor parking garage is located right next to the building, in the "OCC Loop" (OCC - Outpatient Care Center). The OCC Building is connected to the Education Buildling, and there will be a few staffers on hand to help guide people in the right direction.at 10am. You are welcome to attend and bring your children (the media advisory on this event follows). Barb Yavorcik, Executive Director of ASA-ASO will be attending to represent ASA-ASO, the ASA chapters in Ohio and all of you! This is just an update - however, if you are a small business owner that provides autism insurance coverage to employees, currently receive autism insurance coverage or know of someone that would fall into either of these categories that would be willing to testify before the committee (ASA-ASO will provide guidelines on how to do this), PLEASE contact us at askASO@... at your earliest convenience. Thank you for helping ASA-ASO with this effort! Sincerely, Public Policy CommitteeAutism Society of America - Autism Society of Ohio Chapter701 S. Main St.Akron, OH 44311(330) 376-0211fax: (330) 376-1226email: askASO@...web: www.autismohio.org <http://www.autismohio.org> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State Representatives Ted Celeste & Garland

For Immediate Release: Monday, February 23, 2009Contacts: Jeff Wise, Rep. Celeste’s Legislative Aide 614.644.6005 Dillard, Rep. Garland’s Legislative Aide 614.644.6002

***Media Advisory***COLUMBUS – State Representatives Ted Celeste (D-Grandview Heights) and Garland (D-New Albany) will host a news conference on Friday, February 27th at 10:00 a.m. at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, to introduce House Bill 8, legislation requiring insurance companies to cover the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

What: News ConferenceWhen: Friday, February 27, 2009, 10:00 a.m.Where: Nationwide Children’s Hospital Education Building 575 South 18th Street Columbus, OH 43205 Media parking available at Outpatient Care Center loop.Who: State Representatives Ted Celeste and GarlandWhy: To introduce House Bill 8 You're invited to Hollywood's biggest party: Get s updates, red carpet pics and more at Moviefone.