Guest guest Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 I got this this am, is this a farce or what???? Autism Speaks' Legislation Undercuts Insurance Reform in NY Take Action! Do-nothing Bill threatens Real Change Autism Speaks Undercuts NY Autism Health Insurance Reform Autism Speaks gravely jeopardized the chances of real autism health insurance reform in New York State last Friday by undercutting a bill supported by every national and statewide autism advocacy organization in the state by introducing into the legislature their own watered down bill written by a lobbying firm who represent both major health insurance companies and Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks unilateral action undercuts Senate Bill S6123, the bill the autism community in New York has been working to pass for 15 months to get the real autism health insurance reform. The Community Bill This has no annual spending caps; no age limits, and requires coverage of medical specialists, therapies including applied behavior analysis, occupational, physical and speech. I n short the same kind of coverage that is provided for disorders other than autism. In an unprecedented show of support, the Community Bill has been endorsed by groups as diverse as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics along with SAFEMINDS and Generation Rescue as well as the Autism Society of America and the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Project. And it has significant bipartisan support. Autism Speaks has been approached dozens of times since the fall of 2008 about working with a statewide coalition. But they have steadfastly refused to work with anyone. And coming in at this late hour with a competing bill provides the legislators a perfect excuse to do nothing. Here are some of the groups backing S6123 the Community Bill: The Medical Societies of the State of New York (the AMA) American Academy of Pediatrics, Chapter 2 NYS School Board Association NYS Speech, Hearing and Language Association NYS Occupational Therapy Association Autism Action Network Autism Action NY Autism United Autism Society Of America (National) ASA, Albany Chapter ASA, The Bronx ASA, Hudson Valley ASA, Nassau/Suffolk ASA, Western New York Foundation for Autism Information and Research Generation Rescue Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Project National Autism Association, New York Metro Chapter, New York Families for Autistic Children Project Link SAFEMINDS Schafer Autism Report Talking About Curing Autism Upstate New York Families For Effective Autism Treatment Upstate New York Autism Awareness United State Autism and Asperger Association YAI No groups other than Autism Speaks are supporting their bill. Autism Speaks' bill contains vague language that doesn't compel insurance companies to cover any specific treatments, services or therapies. And would require any treatments to be approved by three separate state agencies. There is no time line for the agencies to act and no money to pay for staff. It is a recipe for inaction. A staffer for the Senate sponsor of the bill said on Monday that it could perhaps assist a parent's lawsuit against an insurance company. At a hearing on Autism Insurance in Albany last October, Autism Speaks was represented by a staffer flown in from South Carolina and another staffer who isn't a parent of a child on the spectrum. Whereas there we dozens of speakers, all parents, from across the state advocating for the Community-backed bill. According to an Autism Speaks insider employee, $100,000 was budgeted for their New York lobbying efforts, the vast majority of that going to pay the lobbying firm Manat. Manatt also represents a roster of the very health insurance companies, the very firms who are stealing our premiums while denying our kids healthcare including, Blue Shield of California, GE Insurance Solutions, Group Health Inc., HealthMarkets, Inc., National Health Insurance Company, The Medical Protective Company, the MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company We don't need a do-nothing bill that allows politicians to pretend they are doing something. We need state action to end discrimination against our kids and theft of premiums by insurance companies. What You Can Do: Everyone: Please call Autism Speaks today and ask them to support the Autism community and back the real autism health insurance reform bill Phone: (212) 252-8584 & #8232;Fax: (212) 252-8676 New Yorkers: Call the following two Senators, the key sponsors of the Autism Speaks bill, and ask them politely and respectfully to support S6123; real reform as if kids with autism mattered. Neil Breslin, Chair Senate Insurance Committee, Tel: (518) 455-2225 Tom Duane, Chair, Senate Insurance Committee, Tel: (518) 455-2451 Click on the Take Action button to send an email to your State Senator asking him or her to support S6123. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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