RE: HB 1919

[Guest guest]

Yes I am attending and I'm awaiting to hear from my husband's HR regarding

insurance plans as the newsletter indicated. Thank you for your response.!! I

just found this info in FEAT after I had posted.

gbliss1 wrote:

Hi . Are you planning on attending the FEAT-Houston meeting

next

week? Singleton will be addressing many of the questions being

raised about HB 1919. Here’s the information about the meeting:

Date: Thursday, Sept. 13th

Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Presenters: Singleton, FEAT-Houston Vice President & Legislative

Liaison and Christie Enzinna, BCBA

Topic: HB 1919

Location: The Gee Community Center, 3599 Westcenter, Houston,

Texas.

HB 1919 will become effective on September 1, 2007. Under HB 1919, some

children between the ages of two and six, will be eligible to receive

insurance coverage of therapeutic treatments for autism, including ABA. The

September meeting will address (1) the provisions of HB 1919, (2) which

types of insurance plans will be required to cover ABA therapy, (3) how

parents will need to advocate with insurers and physicians, and (4) what

consumers need to consider before selecting an ABA service provider. You

will get the most out of the meeting if you know before hand what type of

plan you and your family are insured by. You can find out by calling your

HR department and asking the insurance specialist there, " Who regulates our

insurance plan, Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) or ERISA? " If TDI

regulates your plan, please find out what kind of plan it is.

Directions: Take the Richmond exit off Beltway 8. Turn onto Richmond east

of the Beltway. The first street you can turn at will be Westcenter. Turn

south onto Westcenter and drive only about a block and the Community Center

will be on the left.

_____

From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

[mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of tylertaylin

Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 8:15 AM

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

Subject: HB 1919

I had an amazing ABA service with Spetrum of Hope that sent

therapists an hour each way for our home program. We did this for

18 months and can no longer cover the expense. We also believed the

school system and my son were ready to meet. Already after just 7

days of school, I'm keeping him home so that the problems arising do

not continue to snow ball. I'd have to be full time on campus to

ensure my son is not regressing. If we are to access the school

system it most certainly will be with the backing of our ABA program

through Spectrum of Hope (I hope). Though we fought for insurance

coverage and eventually got some, we still couldn't cover the extra

expenses of covering the travel expenses etc... for the therapist.

We live in the Humble area and Spectrum is located near 290. When we

first looked for ABA help the local In-Kids did not meet our needs.

My question is with this new legislation HB 1919, will this cover the

cost my ABA provider has to charge in-home clients with a far travel

or will it only cover expenses up to a certain point. I've read and

reread but do not understand this issue. Before I pursue finding

closer options for ABA I want to stick with the people who have

worked with my son since 2.5 yrs. They have our history and we work

well together. This is most effective for my son. Anyone have

experience with this issue?

My deepest gratitude,