FW: [Autism_NY_News] AUTISM SPEAKS APPLAUDS PENNSYLVANIA LAWMAKERS FOR PASSING STRONGEST AUTISM INSURANCE MANDATE IN THE NATION

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From:

Autism_NY_News [mailto:Autism_NY_News ] On Behalf Of Marty

Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 7:00

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To: Autism_NY_News

Subject: [Autism_NY_News] AUTISM

SPEAKS APPLAUDS PENNSYLVANIA

LAWMAKERS FOR PASSING STRONGEST AUTISM INSURANCE MANDATE IN THE NATION

From:

AUTISM SPEAKS

stein

Communications, Inc.

Jocelyn

Aframe – ; jaframerubenstein

_______________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUTISM SPEAKS APPLAUDS PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE SPEAKER DENNIS O’BRIEN AND STATE LAWMAKERS FOR PASSING

STRONGEST AUTISM INSURANCE MANDATE IN THE NATION

NEW YORK, NY (July 3,

2008) -- Autism Speaks today applauded Pennsylvania House Speaker Dennis

O’Brien and state lawmakers for passing the strongest autism insurance

reform legislation in the country. The bill (HB 150) to create a new

“Autism Spectrum Disorders Coverage” provision of Pennsylvania

insurance law was amended by the House on Tuesday and sent back to the Senate

on Wednesday night where it passed 49-1. Autism Speaks thanked bill

co-sponsors House Speaker Dennis O’Brien and Senator Jane Orie, and

Senators Don White, Dominic Pileggi, ph Scarnati, Stack,

Mellow and for their support in helping to protect the

children of Pennsylvania with autism spectrum disorders.

“We agree with Speaker OBrien that the House amendments make

the strongest autism insurance mandate bill in the nation even stronger,”

said Emken, Autism

Speaks vice president of government relations. “We thank the members of

House for their unanimous support and the members of the Senate for

their nearly unanimous support as we continue to work together to

ensure fair treatment and proper health care for all children with autism. We

will continue to urge other states to follow suit and enact similar legislation

to end autism discrimination in insurance coverage across the country.”

The Pennsylvania

bill provides $36,000 a year for Applied Behavior Analysis and other necessary

treatments up to age 21, with no lifetime cap. It also creates a first ever,

under Pennsylvania

law, expedited appeals procedure for denied claims, as a safeguard to ensure

the law is followed. The bill also turns the existing state welfare program for

autism into a statutory requirement, to ensure that those who receive

government provided services can continue to do so, while allowing for the

development of a private sector delivery system with insurance reimbursement,

offering families an alternative to coverage through Medicaid.

The amended version

of the bill includes new wording that will ensure greater continuity of care

for children on private insurance and for children using Pennsylvania’s

Medical Assistance program. The bill also now states that the autism diagnosis

will last for " at least " 12 months (versus only 12 months.)

“This distinction will ease the burden on parents because they will not

be required to have their child diagnosed every year,” said Emken.

The Pennsylvania

bill addresses discrimination against individuals with autism, and provides

them the same medical necessity standards as afforded individuals with cancer,

diabetes, and the common cold, allowing individuals with autism to be treated

as all others are in the private insurance market.

The bill is expected to be signed into law by the governor in the next ten

days. Once enacted, the law will require private insurers to provide coverage

beginning in July 2009.

About Autism

Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to

communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by

extreme behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one

in 150 children in the United States,

affecting four times as many boys as girls. The diagnosis of autism has

increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and

cure remain unknown.

About Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum

disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for

autism, and to advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their

families. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob , the

grandparents of a child with autism. Bob is Senior Advisor at Lee

Equity Partners and served as vice chairman, General Electric, and chief

executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal for more than twenty years.

Autism Speaks merged with the Autism Coalition for Research and Education

(ACRE), the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) and Cure Autism Now

(CAN), bringing together the nation’s leading autism advocacy

organizations. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org

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