Re: Re: Breaking News: PA Secretary of Public Welfare Denounces HB1150 Changes by A

[Guest guest]

A-CHAMP just communicated our support for the original O'Brien bill and our opposition to the current version.We greatly appreciate the efforts of true grassroots advocates in Pennsylvania who are from Pennsylvania - and who are standing fast for our children.I hope AChamp, Age of Autism, Schafer Report, etc., -- all of you arewill watching this closely.When the Governor, Speaker of the House, and Secretary of the Dept. ofPublic Welfare, not to mention those of us who helped create the billwould rather see it DIE than become law, you have to stop and askyourself -- what the hell did Autism Speaks do?They made a deal with the devil, and I, for one, will not let this gounnoticed. Hell hath no fury.......>> Friends:> > See the attached letter delivered today to your Senators. Not only> does Speaker O'Brien believe HB 1150 as amended by Senator Don White> is a bad idea for Pennsylvania's families living with autism, but> Public Welfare Secretary Estelle Richman does also.> > If Speaker O'Brien has an equal in burg with regard to> dedication to our children, it would be Secretary Richman. We know we> can trust Dennis O'Brien and Estelle Richman to look out for our kids.> Let's show our support for their efforts to create an autism bill> that TRULY is the nation's strongest and call our Senators now!> > WORD IS THAT HB 1150 COULD BE HEARD ON THE SENATE FLOOR TONIGHT!!! > THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!> > 1. PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO FIND THE E-MAIL ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE> NUMBER OF YOUR SENATOR (http://www.legis.state.pa.us/). > > 2. CALL OR E-MAIL YOUR SENATOR THIS AFTERNOON TO TELL HIM OR HER> THE PENNSYLVANIA AUTISM COMMUNITY REJECTS SEN. WHITE'S VERSION OF THE> AUTISM INSURANCE BILL. > > 3. THE PENNSYLVANIA AUTISM COMMUNITY WILL ONLY SUPPORT A VERSION> OF THE AUTISM INSURANCE BILL THAT HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF SPEAKER> O'BRIEN AND IS ACCEPTABLE TO SECRETARY RICHMAN.> > 4. AUTISM SPEAKS DOES NOT SPEAK FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA AUTISMCOMMUNITY> > 5. DENNIS O'BRIEN AND ESTELLE RICHMAN ARE THE PEOPLE THE SENATE> SHOULD BE LISTENING TO.> > Your voice is absolutely critical. EVERY call, EVERY e-mail message,> EVERY show of support for Dennis O'Brien's version of the autism> > insurance bill is a vote for our community's future.> > Jim Bouder> > ************************************************> > LETTER FROM ESTELLE B. RICHMAN, SECRETARY, PA DEPT OF PUBLIC WELFARE> Dear Senator White:> > As many of you know, I have been a strong advocate of Pennsylvania's> efforts to require private insurers to provide minimum coverage for> children with autism spectrum disorders and I supposed the version of> HB1150 that passed the House last July.> > The current version of HB 1150 (PN 4110) is not in the best interest> of Pennsylvania children living with autism spectrum disorder and> their families. If the bill that is before the Senate were to become> law, families will have to jump through more hoops and will worse off> than under the current system.> > Private insurance that covers medical treatment for autism spectrum> disorders is difficult, if not impossible to obtain. Pennsylvania> insurers either explicitly exclude autism or simply reject claims for> treatment for autism. As a result, Pennsylvania families with children> living with autism spectrum disorder currently have no choice but to> rely on the commonwealth's Medical Assistance program for services.> > The intent of House Bill 1150 is to help these families by filling> this gap in the private insurance market, but the changes introduced> in the Senate substantially water down the bill. I have serious> concerns children will not receive the diagnostic and treatment> services they need. While the bill would make private insurance> coverage available in principle, in practice, it would offer little to> no help to our families.> > The bill would allow each individual insurer to determine its own> definition of what services they would be required to cover. This> would create a major loophole as private insurers would not be held to> a common standard for providing medically needed treatment. Decisions> about treatment will vary from insurer to insurer, and not all> children will get the medical treatments for autism that they need.> > Families will assume they are covered up to $36,000 but in actuality> bear much more financial risk. When insurers deny requests for> coverage, families will have no alternative but to reach into their> own pockets to pay for the medical treatment. Thismeans they will be> worse off than today as they will end up paying for services they> currently receive through the Medical Assistance program.> > The purpose of House Bill 1150 is to guarantee that children with> autism receive the treatment they need and that their families can> obtain quality insurance coverage. The current version of the bill> will be a setback for these families and put children at risk of being> left without critically needed medical care. Many families will> continue to pay for private insurance and not be able to access autism> services due to denials.> > I urge you to express opposition to the current version of House Bill> 1150 (PN 4110) on the Senate floor.> > Sincerely,> > Estelle B. Richman> > > *****************> J. KrakowAttorney at Law1205 lin Avenue, Suite 110Garden City, New York 11530 (fax)rkrakow@...

[Guest guest]

Great to hear that Bob--

A-CHAMP just communicated our support for the original O'Brien bill and our opposition to the current version.

We greatly appreciate the efforts of true grassroots advocates in Pennsylvania who are from Pennsylvania - and who are standing fast for our children.

I hope AChamp, Age of Autism, Schafer Report, etc., -- all of you are

will watching this closely.

When the Governor, Speaker of the House, and Secretary of the Dept. of

Public Welfare, not to mention those of us who helped create the bill

would rather see it DIE than become law, you have to stop and ask

yourself -- what the hell did Autism Speaks do?

They made a deal with the devil, and I, for one, will not let this go

unnoticed. Hell hath no fury.......

>

> Friends:

> 

> See the attached letter delivered today to your Senators. Not only

> does Speaker O'Brien believe HB 1150 as amended by Senator Don White

> is a bad idea for Pennsylvania's families living with autism, but

> Public Welfare Secretary Estelle Richman does also.

> 

> If Speaker O'Brien has an equal in burg with regard to

> dedication to our children, it would be Secretary Richman. We know we

> can trust Dennis O'Brien and Estelle Richman to look out for our kids.

> Let's show our support for their efforts to create an autism bill

> that TRULY is the nation's strongest and call our Senators now!

> 

> WORD IS THAT HB 1150 COULD BE HEARD ON THE SENATE FLOOR TONIGHT!!! 

> THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!

> 

> 1. PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO FIND THE E-MAIL ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE

> NUMBER OF YOUR SENATOR (http://www.legis.state.pa.us/). 

> 

> 2. CALL OR E-MAIL YOUR SENATOR THIS AFTERNOON TO TELL HIM OR HER

> THE PENNSYLVANIA AUTISM COMMUNITY REJECTS SEN. WHITE'S VERSION OF THE

> AUTISM INSURANCE BILL. 

> 

> 3. THE PENNSYLVANIA AUTISM COMMUNITY WILL ONLY SUPPORT A VERSION

> OF THE AUTISM INSURANCE BILL THAT HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF SPEAKER

> O'BRIEN AND IS ACCEPTABLE TO SECRETARY RICHMAN.

> 

> 4. AUTISM SPEAKS DOES NOT SPEAK FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA AUTISM

COMMUNITY

> 

> 5. DENNIS O'BRIEN AND ESTELLE RICHMAN ARE THE PEOPLE THE SENATE

> SHOULD BE LISTENING TO.

> 

> Your voice is absolutely critical. EVERY call, EVERY e-mail message,

> EVERY show of support for Dennis O'Brien's version of the autism

> 

> insurance bill is a vote for our community's future.

> 

> Jim Bouder

> 

> ************************************************

> 

> LETTER FROM ESTELLE B. RICHMAN, SECRETARY, PA DEPT OF PUBLIC WELFARE

> Dear Senator White:

> 

> As many of you know, I have been a strong advocate of Pennsylvania's

> efforts to require private insurers to provide minimum coverage for

> children with autism spectrum disorders and I supposed the version of

> HB1150 that passed the House last July.

> 

> The current version of HB 1150 (PN 4110) is not in the best interest

> of Pennsylvania children living with autism spectrum disorder and

> their families. If the bill that is before the Senate were to become

> law, families will have to jump through more hoops and will worse off

> than under the current system.

> 

> Private insurance that covers medical treatment for autism spectrum

> disorders is difficult, if not impossible to obtain. Pennsylvania

> insurers either explicitly exclude autism or simply reject claims for

> treatment for autism. As a result, Pennsylvania families with children

> living with autism spectrum disorder currently have no choice but to

> rely on the commonwealth's Medical Assistance program for services.

> 

> The intent of House Bill 1150 is to help these families by filling

> this gap in the private insurance market, but the changes introduced

> in the Senate substantially water down the bill. I have serious

> concerns children will not receive the diagnostic and treatment

> services they need. While the bill would make private insurance

> coverage available in principle, in practice, it would offer little to

> no help to our families.

> 

> The bill would allow each individual insurer to determine its own

> definition of what services they would be required to cover. This

> would create a major loophole as private insurers would not be held to

> a common standard for providing medically needed treatment. Decisions

> about treatment will vary from insurer to insurer, and not all

> children will get the medical treatments for autism that they need.

> 

> Families will assume they are covered up to $36,000 but in actuality

> bear much more financial risk. When insurers deny requests for

> coverage, families will have no alternative but to reach into their

> own pockets to pay for the medical treatment. Thismeans they will be

> worse off than today as they will end up paying for services they

> currently receive through the Medical Assistance program.

> 

> The purpose of House Bill 1150 is to guarantee that children with

> autism receive the treatment they need and that their families can

> obtain quality insurance coverage. The current version of the bill

> will be a setback for these families and put children at risk of being

> left without critically needed medical care. Many families will

> continue to pay for private insurance and not be able to access autism

> services due to denials.

> 

> I urge you to express opposition to the current version of House Bill

> 1150 (PN 4110) on the Senate floor.

> 

> Sincerely,

> 

> Estelle B. Richman

> 

> 

> *****************

>

J. Krakow

Attorney at Law

1205 lin Avenue, Suite 110

Garden City, New York 11530

(fax)

rkrakow@...