Autism Society of Ohio Action Alert: Autism Insurance Coverage in Ohio

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend of the Autism Society:

As you may remember, HB 8, the autism insurance coverage bill, was passed out

of House Healthcare Access and Affordability committee last spring.  The

language contained in HB 8 was amended into the Ohio Budget bill, HB 1, and

passed by the House.  However, the autism insurance coverage language was

stripped from the Senate version of the bill and HB 1, when finally passed, did

not contain autism insurance coverage.

However, HB 8 is still ready to be considered by the full Ohio House. 

There is a possibility that the leadership of the House will bring the bill up

for consideration sometime in November.  While most  Democrats already

support HB 8, it is important to shore up their votes and work to secure

support for this legislation from Republican members of the House as well -

especially those that have voted for issues like this in the past (e.g. mental

health insurance coverage).

We need your help!  Please contact your Ohio Representative and ask

them to support and vote for HB 8, autism parity insurance coverage

today!  The following Republican State Representatives voted for

Mental Health Insurance Coverage in the past and may be inclined to support

Autism Insurance, so if you are a constituent of one of these Representatives,

it is especially important that you contact them: Representatives Blessing,

Combs, Dolan, , Gardner, Hottinger, McGregor and Oelslager.

Additionally, Republican Representatives Baker,Combs, Hackett, Lehner,

Snitchler and Stebelton have indicated they may support Autism Insurance

Coverage - including by voting for the bill in the House Healthcare Access and

Affordability committee, Co-sponsoring the bill or in past communications with

constituents and need to hear from constituents that they should continue to

support HB8.

Finally, even if your State Representative is not listed above, whether

Republican or Democrat it is important to contact them to ask for their support

for this important issue.  When contacting your legislators, you can use

the following talking points:

· Autism currently affects 1 in 150 births - and that number is expected to

rise.

· 16 other states have adopted some form of autism insurance coverage

legislation – legislation pending in another 29 states.

· HB 8 provides an “opt out” provision for insurers – if premiums increase more

than 1% as a result of this added coverage.

· Covering medically necessary therapies today will go a long way toward

helping children to grow up and be functioning, tax paying citizens.

· Early treatment/coverage will save million of tax dollars down the road that

are going to things such as special education.

· Please support autism insurance coverage.

The best way to contact is to call the Representative's office, but an email,

postcard, or letter can also be effective.  The Autism Society has created an easy to use email action alert for HB

8 - autism insurance coverage - so if you have not yet contacted your

legislators, you can use this alert to do so.  However, as OAAN

Constituent Advocates, it would be additionally helpful if you would

call or write your legislators aw well, as emails sometimes overwhelm

legislators and may get lost.  Click here to use the action alert, or visit: https://secure2.convio.net/asa/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage & page=UserAction & id=339

Please contact the Autism Society of Ohio at askASO@... to let us know

the results of your contact - whether or not you feel your Representative

will support HB 8, autism insurance coverage.

The Autism Society cannot do this alone - it is important that

legislators hear from their constituents on this important issue, so contact

them as soon as possible.  To get information on how to contact your

legislators, click here,

or visit http://www.house.state.oh.us/index.php?option=com_displaymembers & Itemid=57. 

For more information on autism insurance coverage in Ohio, click here,

or visit: http://www.autismohio.org/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=816 & Itemid=149

As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact ASO at askASO@...Please forward this email to everyone you think willing to help with this effort!

Sincerely,

Autism Society of Ohio

1335 Dublin Rd., Suite 205-C

Columbus, OH 43215

(614) 487-4726

fax: (614) 487-4725

general email: askASO@...

personal email: ASAASOExecDir@...

web: www.autismohio.org