Federal Insurance Providers Not Required to Cover ABA Therapy for Families with Autistic Children

BALTIMORE -- Autistic children of federal workers in 22 states begin receiving insurance coverage this month for a key behavioral treatment, under a decision by the Office of Personnel Management.
Maryland, home to the third-largest population of federal workers in the nation, is not one of them.
"These families desperately need the best coverage for their kids," said Stuart Spielman, senior policy adviser and counsel for Autism Speaks. He said the advocacy group would petition the OPM to expand its coverage as quickly as possible.

Military Family Fights for Autism Coverage

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A retired airman who dedicated 21 years to the United States Air Force is denied medical coverage for his autisitc five-year-old daughter.
Sara Bryan was diagnosed with autism at age four. The news was devastating to her parents, Jeff Bryan and his wife, Lisa.

Opinion: Maryland Again Fails Autism Community

Commentary from The Baltimore Sun by Ian Paregol, the executive director of Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (www.csaac.org), a Montgomery County-based nonprofit that operates an Intensive Early Intervention program for ages 18 months to 7 years, two non-public schools, 52 community residences for children and adults and a supported employment program for adults.

BALTIMORE -- This week, Michigan became the 30th state to require insurance coverage for autism therapies. Meanwhile, here in Maryland, the General Assembly has for the fourth consecutive year failed families of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders — one of our most significant national health emergencies.
Autism is a complex neurological disorder that typically impacts an individual throughout his or her lifetime. It is found in all ethnic, racial and social groups, affecting a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. Perhaps most disconcerting, the prevalence of autism is growing, up 78 percent over the last decade

Autism Coverage Signed into Law in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. -- With Gov. Rick Snyder out of the country, Michigan's Lt. Gov. signed a bill he had a strong hand in pushing through the Legislature.
The Michigan Public Radio Network's Rick Pluta reports on the signing of the autism coverage bill:

Intelligence Insults Should Insult Our Intelligence

Came across a Raise the Hammer, a website run by a group of Hamilton, Ontario, citizens who believe in their city's potential and are willing to get involved in making the city a more vibrant, livable, and attractive place to live and work. 

Moron. Idiot. Imbecile. Feebleminded.

No, I'm not quoting a Python skit. I'm listing some clinical classifications, no longer in use, except as socially acceptable descriptors of individuals with whom we may disagree, or whose expertise we doubt.

Retarded.
As in, "That's retarded."
Socially acceptable? That depends. If you're a comedy host for the CBC (Clash of Comedy website in Canada), apparently it is.

Group Home Raises Concerns

This home on Salisbury Street
will be razed.

This story is just a sad reflection that the public's view of individuals with disabilities really hasn't changed at all. Read the comments when you link to the story. It's time people start seeing beyond disability and embrace diversity.

WORCESTER, Mass. --  A Brockton-based human services agency intends to operate a residential program for people with developmental disabilities at a Salisbury Street property where the existing home will be razed and replaced with a new building.

Autism, Parents and Teachers: Bridging the Communication Gap

SFGate.com autism advocate blogger Laura Shumaker touches another critical issue.

I was talking to a group of teachers last week, something I do frequently, about my experience raising a child with autism. My favorite part of these talks is the Q and A. “You can ask me anything,” I say, “and I will answer to the best of my ability.”
I get a lot of juicy questions, but there is one that I am asked most frequently:

I could do a better job if I could communicate more with parents. How can I get them to talk to me?

I flash back to the year that I was that parent, and how his teacher bridged the communication gap.

Governor Signs R.I. Autism-Insurance Law

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Governor Chafee on Thursday morning held a ceremonial signing of legislation that requires insurers to to provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

He was joined by families of, and advocates for, people with autism, as well as Rep. Peter Palumbo, D-Cranston, and Sen. Edward O'Neill, D-Lincoln, the legislation's primary sponsors, for the State House event.

Opinion: Pay Now or Later for Autism Care

Column by Phil Weaver, president and CEO of Hope Network in Grand Rapids, Mich.)

Over the last few years I have sat by and watched as 23 other states passed autism insurance legislation. I’ve often wondered why Michigan isn’t one of them. These states recognized the medical, societal, family and business benefits, and faced the choice that comes with autism insurance legislation: Pay now, or pay later.

New Virginia Autism Law Faces Delay

NORFOLK, Va. -- Families of children with autism celebrated the passage of a law earlier this year that would require insurance to cover a costly treatment for the developmental disorder.
But advocates who worked more than a decade for the law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2012, were disappointed to find out that an amendment made by the governor could delay a key piece as long as two years.
One of the governor's amendments requires therapists of Applied Behavioral Analysis -- the gold standard treatment for autism -- to be licensed by the state of Virginia.
The regulatory process to set up a new license in Virginia takes 18 months to two years to complete, according to Karin Addison, a special adviser in the state's office of Health and Human Services. She said the law does not contain a fast-tracking clause, which could have sped up the process.

Blue Shield to Cover ABA! What's the Catch?

From Laura Shumaker of the SFGate.com

I was encouraged when I read the following press release, last Friday:
SACRAMENTO -- Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg said he's pleased with what may be significant progress in the fair insurance coverage of therapy for people with autism, after the Department of Managed Health Care revealed a new insurance settlement agreement with one of the state's largest HMOs during a hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders.
During Wednesday's hearing, DMHC revealed a settlement agreement with Blue Shield of California regarding insurance coverage for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) in the treatment of autism and related disorders. DMHC also indicated it is in similar negotiations with Blue Cross and Kaiser Permanente. Those three health plans represent an estimated 95 percent of the 22 million Californians covered by HMOs, according to testimony at the hearing.
Good news! Great news as a matter of fact. There must be a catch.