RE: fird from DADS. . .CHIP is a federal not state program

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone—, the one who worked on both of these insurance bills here. . . The CHIP program was NOT covered by the legislation that got signed into law in 2007.That law was for the 30% of people who’s companies have STATE REGULATED plans. CHIP and MEDICAID card insurance are FEDERAL programs. They use FEDERAL definitions. Right now, the codes for ABA are NOT covered in Texas CHIP or MEDICAID, but speech, OT, and PT are. If I had decided to commit myself to two more years of volunteer advocacy, this is the issue I’d be working right now. “All” it will take to change this, is changing the state administrative code to allow ABA to be a covered service. I say “all” because that little change will be very expensive, and in case you haven’t noticed, our dear state Republicans have been making headlines with their willingness to consider completely opting out of Medicaid because they already resent the money being spent on health care for the poor. S. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++I noted that one benefit of DADS is CHIP (Childrens' Health Insurance Program). Governor signed a statute into law in I think 2007 requiring mandatory coverage for all state insurers in Texas for ABA, so I suppose he thought autism was " covered " and a pretty big deal. Not sure what services you are trying to get but your Dr probably knows the " codes " for which they provide services and frankly, if you're looking at CHIP I do not see how they can deny you. Autism has a lot of complications as you know. I wonder if celiac disease or some other underlying symptom is covered? Lee Schwager Attorney at Law candiceschwager@... " Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion. " Dwight D. Eisenhower