An appeal to BCBAs/licensed professionals for letters of support

[Guest guest]

Please accept my sincere apologies for this public cross-post, but the matter is

urgent and the timeline is short.

At this time, an Advisory Committee is meeting in Oregon to draft the

administrative rules relating to health insurance coverage of autism as part of

a recently passed state mental health parity statute/SB1.

The FINAL meeting for submission of testimony and public input is on February

27, 2006, 1 PM Pacific Time. After that, the matter will entirely rest in the

hands of the committee members.

Realistically this may be the best shot for at least 2-3 years for families in

Oregon to gain some mandated coverage for ABA therapy via health insurance and

recognition of the BCBA as an appropriate provider and supervisor of such

services. Currently the certification is not recognized as a valid provider of

therapeutic services and is excluded even among those policies which on a

limited basis cover ABA.

Unfortunately, since all extant policies are being reviewed for standardization,

there is also a possibility that policies currently covering autism treatment

may be changed to unilaterally exclude it. (There is some lobbying going in that

direction.) Since it is only in the last couple of years that we have been able

to have health insurance coverage at all in any policies, this would represent a

huge step backwards.

For this reason I am appealing to professionals on this list who have both a

BCBA AND a professional license in clinical or counseling psychology, M.D., LCSW

or licensed Family Therapist, no matter what state, for letters of support as to

the need and effectiveness for ABA therapy for children with autism and why

appropriate background and training as demonstrated by the BCBA certification is

a necessary prerequisite in the implementation of effective ABA therapy.

At the present moment, it appears that the panel, even though composed of

medical and psychological professionals, have little knowledge or of the value

of ABA therapy for children with autism and almost complete ignorance of the

BACB or the certification.

I am submitting my own statement to this committee,but supporting statements and

references by professional peers and experts may carry more weight than that of

any given parent.

I believe that gaining recognition of the BCBA and health insurance coverage for

ABA therapy for autism in Oregon will benefit families and children in other

states by helping to establish further precedence.

Thank you for your time in reading this appeal. I hope you can help. I am glad

to discuss any particulars off list.

Warm regards,

Regina Frey

Eugene, Oregon