Archive for the ‘Benefits’ Category

Insurance Coverage for Autism Related Services

Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Help Make Autism Insurance Coverage a Reality in

New York State

Bills have been proposed in both the New York State Assembly (A.6888-B) and New York State Senate (S.6123), which would provide better coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with autism in New York State.

The bills propose amendments to the Insurance Law to provide coverage in every policy, group policy, and/or medical indemnity, hospital service or health service corporation, for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.  They further provide that treatment of autism spectrum disorders shall include psychiatric care, including direct, consultative and diagnostic services; habilitative or rehabilitative care; pediatric and developmental pediatric care; anesthesiological care and anesthetic services; neurological care; gastroenterogical care; endocrinological care, including behavioral, speech, occupational and physical therapies as well as social skills education training.

Historically, autism has been misidentified as a psychiatric disorder, and has been excluded from coverage by health insurance carriers.  New York State Insurance Law was significantly changed in 2006, by requiring insurers to provide all medical services to people with autism that would be provided to people without autism.  This law has helped ameliorate the problem, but it does not specify health care services specific to the treatment and diagnosis of autism.

Please support A.6888-B and S.6123 by contacting your local representatives, Assemblymember Koon and Senator Huntley.
CONTACT INFORMATION
A brief letter, fax or telephone call to you local representatives in support of these bills could help ensure that our friends, family, and children with autism are properly diagnosed and provided with the treatments they so desperately need…

  • Assemblyman Koon :( 518) 455-5784; Address: Legislative Office Building, Room 643, Albany, New York 12248.
  • Senator Shirley Huntley :( 518) 455-3531; Fax: (518) 426-6859; Address: Legislative Office Building, Room 803, Albany, New York 12248.
  • Your own Assembly Member.  To find your Assembly member, call (518) 455-4100 or go to www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
  • Your own State Senator.  To find your State Senator, call (518) 455-2800 or go to www.nysenate.gov.
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Posted in Advocacy, Awareness, Benefits, Education, Healthcare, Insurance Coverage, Living With, unlockautism.com | 1 Comment »

Autism Treatment Acceleration Act – ATAA

Friday, May 15th, 2009

Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, and Unlock Autism today applauded Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), and Hank Johnson (D-GA) for their introduction of a House companion bill to the Senate’s Autism Treatment Acceleration Act (ATAA), which was introduced last month by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Robert Casey (D-PA), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ). Like the Senate version, the House version of the ATAA (H.R. 2413) is comprehensive federal legislation that addresses several critical challenges facing the autism community, including increased funding for scientific research, treatment and services. The ATAA incorporates provisions from the Expanding the Promise of Individuals with Autism Act (EPIAA), originally proposed by Representatives Doyle, Smith, Engel, and former-Representative Chip Pickering.

A welcome sign of relief  to many who routinely spend $30-$50k on therapy’s – not even considered for reimbursement by insurance companies.

As in the Senate’s ATAA bill, a key section of the House bill requires all insurance companies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASDs), including coverage of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy – a medically-necessary, evidence-based autism treatment. While the number of states that have enacted comprehensive autism insurance reform legislation has grown to ten, most state insurers are still allowed to specifically exclude coverage for these critical services, which can cost upward of $50,000 a year – well beyond the means of most families.

The House version of the bill also addresses the unique needs of adults with ASDs, creating a demonstration project with one-year planning grants and multi-year implementation grants for the provision of service for adults with autism. In addition, it creates the Network for Autism Spectrum Disorders Research and Services aimed at accelerating the dissemination and utilization of critical, new information, moving it from “bench to bedside” as quickly as possible.

Posted in ADHD, Awareness, Benefits, Care, General Topics, Gov't Action, Insight into, Insurance Issues, Living With, Medical, Political Issues, Research, Share Your Wisdom, unlockautism.com | No Comments »

Comedy Central, Stewart team for autism benefit

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008

I am curious to see Jon Stewarts usually funny and satirical view on Autism. I could use a good laugh.

March 11, 2008

Comedy Central has again partnered with Jon Stewart’s Busboy Prods. for its biannual live on-air special event “Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Benefit for Autism Education.”

The event, which benefits Autism education programs, is set to air live at 8 p.m. ET April 13 from the Beacon Theatre in New York. Stewart will host the evening, which will include live performances, sketches and short films from a range of comedy stars.

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com

Posted in Awareness, Benefits, Charity | No Comments »