Autism Speaks Joins The Nevada Autism Community In Denouncing Assemblyman Settelmeyer’s Veiled Attempt To Dismantle Support For Autism Insurance Reform Bill
NEW YORK, NY (April 24, 2009) -- This week, Autism Speaks -- the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization -- joined with the Nevada autism community in applauding the members of the State Assembly for passing Assembly Bill 162, a bill requiring insurance companies to provide coverage of evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies. The bill easily passed the Assembly in a 39-2 vote and now heads to the State Senate Commerce & Labor Committee for further action. However, a single assemblyman has unexpectedly decided to launch an effort to derail the bill’s further progress, compelling Autism Speaks and other advocates to decry the legislator’s tactics and motive.
Assemblyman James Settelmeyer released a statement on Wednesday entitled “All Children Deserve Autism Coverage.” It argues that because AB 162 does not cover all children within the state of Nevada – specifically, the children of state employees -- the bill does not deserve further support. Until voting yes on AB 162 on the floor of the Assembly on Tuesday, Assemblyman Settelmeyer had been vocal in his opposition to the bill, even voting against it in committee.
“Assemblyman Settelmeyer knows that in this difficult fiscal climate the Nevada legislature is unable to include state employees in this legislation, which necessitated its amendment,” said Elizabeth Emken, Autism Speaks Vice President of Government Relations. “As Assembly Settelmeyer is well aware, any attempt to amend AB 162 to add the state plan back in will kill the bill altogether. All Nevada families affected by autism lose in that scenario, but it is clear that his goal is not to help families. His attack on AB 162 is nothing more than a veiled attempt to derail the progress of the bill by confusing his Senate colleagues, betraying the Nevada autism community in the process.”
"Assemblyman Settelmeyer claims he wants to see all children with autism, including the children of state employees, enjoy appropriate coverage for the insurance premiums that they pay – but nobody is buying the sincerity of his rhetoric,” said Ralph Toddre, Commissioner of the Nevada Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders. “The all or nothing approach he is now advocating is purely a political ploy. If he truly wants to demonstrate genuine concern for Nevada’s families, he will recruit his Republican Senate counterparts to vote in favor of this bill and then introduce separate legislation at a later date amending the law to include state employees once the state’s economy has improved."
AB 162 requires insurers to cover up to $36,000 annually for a child with autism under the age of 18 (or under the age of 21 if enrolled in high school) specifically for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, which is recognized as an effective, evidence-based treatment for children with autism. The bill was sponsored in the State Assembly by Assemblyman James Ohrenschall (D – Las Vegas).
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