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House Energy and Commerce Committee Passes Autism Insurance Reform Amendment to “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act Of 2009”

Key House Committee Stands Up for Families’ Access to Insurance Coverage of Autism Therapies

NEW YORK, NY (July 31, 2009) -- Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, today applauds the members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for passing Representative Mike Doyle’s (D-PA), autism insurance reform amendment to “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,” H.R. 3200. Mr. Doyle serves as Chairman of the Congressional Autism Research and Education Caucus in the House.

The amendment will prohibit discrimination in benefits against persons with autism by amending current sections of H.R. 3200 to include behavioral health treatments as part of the essential benefits package.

“We are grateful to Representative Doyle and his committee colleagues for passing this amendment to the health care reform bill. The legislation will ensure that families dealing with autism will be a part of larger health care reform," said Elizabeth Emken, Vice President of Government Relations for Autism Speaks. “Short of finding a cure for autism, there is nothing that can have a more significant impact on the lives of people with autism and those who love them than putting an end to insurance discrimination. Now is the time to finally right this terrible wrong.”

Watch Congressman Mike Doyle Make His Historic Pledge to the Autism Community on July 16, 2009:

Comments:

Anonymous @ 10/12/2009 11:50:44 AM

My Child is 32 years old no one talks about ADULTS with autism, do they
just stop existing ?? Is Medicare and Medicade examples of what we have to look forward to ??

Anonymous @ 9/22/2009 10:32:54 AM

I'M A MOTHER OF A CHILD WIH AUTISM.
IT'S NOW BEEN OVER TEN YEARS LIVING IN A HELL I NEVER THOUGHT HAPPENED IN RAISING A CHILD. I HAVE TWO NORMAL GROWN UP SONS.
BUT, EVEN THOUGH I'VE FOUGHT AND DEBATED FOR SERVICES FFOM THE SCHOOL AND MY HOSPITAL MARRIAGE TROUBLES, I NEVER HAD A REGRET HAVING HIM.
THE COST HAS BEEN OVER $150,000 DOLLARS AND THE THE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AMOUNT HAS NO PRICE TAG. YES, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE IN DEBT OVER OUR HEAD AND HAVE NO WAY OUT. I ALSO NEED TO SAY THAT EVEN WITH THE PASSING OF LAWS THE SCHOOL AND THE HOSPITALS WILL DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES TO NOT PAY.
SINCE IT IS EFFECTING 1 OUT OF 150 KIDS WORLD WIDE THEY WILL PICK THE SEVERE CASES AND THE HIGH FUNCTIONING ONES WILL FALL THROUGH OUR
SYSTEM.

THANKS FOR CARING AUTISM SPEAKS AND CONGRESS,
K.J.C. CALIFORNIA

Anonymous @ 9/8/2009 8:02:53 AM

If this actually happened...I would be thrilled. We are fighting with the insurance right now on getting them to pay for our son's diagnosis and treatment of autism. We have been told that the diagnosis and treatment of autism is our responsibility. We are in debt almost $1300, and that amount is rising almost daily.

Anonymous @ 9/1/2009 7:26:57 PM

Bottom line...without reform or government regulations we are trusting insurance companies--PROFIT-driven entities--to dictate the services our children will receive. When my son's OT/Speech Therapy visits were limited to 60/year, the company saved money. A year later when our new plan options only included coverage for "restorative" therapies, those companies saved money. The premiums did not come down--in fact they went up...along with our deductibles. I am so grateful that Autism Speaks offers a voice, and I hope that our voices will continue to be heard.

Anonymous @ 8/27/2009 1:47:37 PM

On August 19th, I went to Congressman Joe Bartons Town Hall Meeting in Mansfield, Texas and was given the opportunity to ask him about supporting legislation that would end autism insurance discrimination. His response was not what I had hoped but was what I had expected. He will not support federal legislation that mandates insurance plans to include coverage for autism treatment and therapies. He will support a national pool, with a price tag of $2 billion, that would provide vouchers to families with autism who qualify to receive them. He also stopped the Combating Autism Bill in 2006. Its obvious that Congressman Barton represents Insurance Companies and not his constituents, not his State who has passed Autism Legislation and only is looking to better himself at taxpayers expense. His response will soon be on you tube and www.bruciesrecovery.wordpress.com, Support HB 2413

Anonymous @ 8/17/2009 10:07:39 AM

Sorry, I thought I had the character count just under the wire.

If you have any questions regarding ATAA (H.R. 2413 or S.819) you can contact me at staylor827@yahoo.com

Anonymous @ 8/17/2009 8:31:41 AM

Last spring, The Autism Treatment Acceleration Act(ATAA)(S.819 & H.R. 2413) was introduced and is in committee. It will mandate insurance coverage for ASDs and require coverage for ABA therapy. .As you can imagine, it is on hold while the reform bill is being debated. This is the time to contact our congressional representatives and press them to cosponsor this bill. Last week, my wife and I met with Sen. Hagan's Sr. Legislative Assistant for Health and Congressman Bob Etheridge. They both agreed to co-sponsor this bill. It is a no-brainer for them. No one wants to vote against helping autistic kids. Especially coming into an election year.

Read the summary and call your representatives. If they already are co-sponsoring the bill, thank them for their support, if they aren't urge them to. Tell them about your struggles to get coverage for therapy.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:SN00819:@@@D&summ2=m&

If you have any questions, please e-mail me at staylor8

Anonymous @ 8/15/2009 1:20:18 PM

I think that is wonderful news!!!

Anonymous @ 8/15/2009 1:19:33 PM

I think that is wonderful news!!!

Anonymous @ 8/13/2009 8:13:55 AM

This is great! Now how do I go about getting my health insurance to pay for all the services that I'm currently paying for?

Anonymous @ 8/12/2009 8:37:05 PM

My Part 1 :

Do not put all hopes into HR 3200, seperate autism legislation should be passed and not contingent upon acception upon HR 3200 passing. We may get no more insurance discrimination due to pre-existing conditions but many other methods for treating our children may not be allowed and we may be receiving more vaccine mandates. Average wait in Canada for a primary care physician is 17 week and longer for specialist. I like only having to wait approx 30 days for my kids to see their develop ped and specialty teams at the hospital center and I like not sitting for more than 30 min at their primary care pediatrician for regular sickness & when I call for an appointment the girls ask me when do I want to come in and they are a busy practice with 4 physicians, and have late hours during week, saturday hrs for sickness & will even come in on Sunday for a small extra charge which is $20. Please sit down & seriously read HR 3200 we may not be happy.

Anonymous @ 8/12/2009 8:35:11 PM

MY PART 2:

Please sit down & seriously read HR 3200 we may not be happy. Also how does this pertain to military families with Tricare with autistic children who are deep financially in the hole as it is for now. My kids are 4 and 2 and I got early services which is vital for success and now my daughter will go to a regular ed kindergarden. There are many future children who can be recovered and for the older kids & people on the spectrum it would be a disgrace to have someone "ration out services" like home health aides which can be extremely vital especially for elderly parents who are have already suffered with outrageous waiting list for care for their adult children who will be left alone when they pass may God Bless them & help them. My kids are young & without waiting for services or having services rationed or a "board" determine if services are necessary for my kids I doubt they would have the success they have now & there is only room for improvement. LETS READ HR 3200 BEFO

Anonymous @ 8/12/2009 8:34:26 PM

My Part 3:

My kids are young & without waiting for services or having services rationed or a "board" determine if services are necessary for my kids I doubt they would have the success they have now & there is only room for improvement. LETS READ HR 3200 BEFORE WE SHOUT & CHEER. BREAK OUT THE DICTIONARY, LEGAL DICTIONARY, HIGHLIGHTERS, GLASSES & COFFEE AND BREAK NIGHT TO SEE WHAT IS REALLY IN THE LEGISLATION so that we can calmly and intelligently argue points and get the best possible compromise we can. Thank you.

Anonymous @ 8/12/2009 3:56:53 PM

Anonymous @ 8/12/2009 3:55:48 PM

Anonymous @ 8/12/2009 3:53:58 PM

Do not out all hopes into HR 3200, seperate autism legislation should be passed and not contingent upon acception upon HR 3200 passing. We may get no more insurance discrimination due to pre-existing conditions but many other methods for treating our children may not be allowed and we may be receiving more vaccine mandates. Average wait in Canada for a primary care physician is 17 week and longer for specialist. I like only having to wait approx 30 days for my kids to see their develop ped and specialty teams at the hospital center and I like not sitting for more than 30 min at their primary care pediatrician for regular sickness & when I call for an appointment the girls ask me when do I want to come in and they are a busy practice with 4 physicians, and have late hours during week, saturday hrs for sickness & will even come in on Sunday for a small extra charge which is $20. Please sit down & seriously read HR 3200 we may not be happy. Also how does this pertain to military familie

Anonymous @ 8/11/2009 8:06:48 PM

I am grateful for all of the work of everyone involved. We need to nationalize this to get it accomplished.

Anonymous @ 8/10/2009 3:27:08 PM

So is this Law now? when does it take effect? Or does it have more hurdles to pass before we can ask insurance for help?These are the questions that keep me up at night.

Anonymous @ 8/10/2009 9:53:42 AM

I cannot believe it; you believe Congress! HR3200 will make Vaccinations mandatory (even home delivered)! In addition, if they will not take care of the elderly what makes you think they will take care of our children. It will bankrupt the system, the system that is already bankrupt. There is a waiting list of 9-10 years for government programs. The real reform is to get the insurance companies to work with families/individuals with disabilities.

I do not want the government telling me I can or cannot perform IV chelation, HBOT treatment or any other cutting edge treatment. They will want to DRUG our children. This bill does not help our children. READ for yourself, do not rely on Autism Speak (although they mean well). We cannot be complacent anymore!!

Anonymous @ 8/9/2009 4:58:19 PM

I hope that finally they make good on their promises and pass a bill that includes the autistic spectrum on health and education. My grandson is autistic and I cannot begin to tell you how hard it has been to get him the education that he so desperateLY needs. I feel like we live in a third world country, the red tape is just unbelievable..It is time provide for our children by doing more and talking less. Move forward america!!!

Anonymous @ 8/9/2009 7:54:52 AM

What I don't understand is that Sarah Palin is for Autism insurance reform, but is against H.R. 3200, the bill Autism insurance reform is attached to. Sounds like she is playing both sides to the middle and is just trying to score political points rather than really trying to help. Her child Trig, who has Down Syndrome, will never be lacking in treatment and will have all the best resources available to him. The average American however does not. So her voice is more of a detriment to the cause, because we really do not know where she stands. If H.R. 3200 is off the table then how much longer will we have to wait for Autism reform? We need to be more vocal and our presence needs to be seen at any meeting or function regarding Healthcare Reform. People need to know what else is at stake.

Anonymous @ 8/8/2009 6:41:28 PM

I am thrilled as long as the government is not going to stipulate and mandate who I see. Our provider and ourselves as parents are the ones who know what is best for our child. The government is not around to see the daily grind of families.

Anonymous @ 8/8/2009 5:25:33 PM

Autism Speaks needs to be more vocal at these town hall meetings, because if healthcare reform is squashed, then this petition will be meaningless. I laugh at those who think petitioning the very same insurance companies that are denying coverage as the answer to this problem. The best Doctors in the field in my area are out of my plans network, and I am left having to pay upwards of $250 for eval visits where essentially the Doctor asks questions regarding my son's progress. What happens when these visits become more than a once a month necessity? Or when the visits are more involving and require more extensive treatment. How much more will that tax me and my family. The extra taxes I may have to pay pales in comparison to the co-pays and full service visits not covered. Get the word out and count me in. We need to speak for those that cannot speak for themselves.

Anonymous @ 8/8/2009 6:52:52 AM

It remains to be seen if this is a true victory.

Anonymous @ 8/7/2009 9:39:44 PM

I dont agree with jumping on the mandate bandwagon, the Federal government should be OUT of healthcare. Lobby State government and insurance companies, you are barking up the wrong tree by supporting any type of nationalized healthcare.

Anonymous @ 8/7/2009 8:57:39 PM

This is so great,I have 3 boys who have a primary diagnosis of autism.They are 3,5 and 8 so far my 8 year old is the only one we have had problems with treatment coverage.They say autism is not accepted as a primary diagnosis any more.So he just barely got into his treatment center when they said he is going to be evaluated every 3 months to see if he still meets the criteria to have insurance cover his therapy.

Anonymous @ 8/7/2009 2:36:19 PM

This is the best day ever, for all children with autism and their familes. I have a 6 year old with autism, and it is extreamly expensive. I say thank you so much, it is about time.

Anonymous @ 8/7/2009 9:05:38 AM

Amendment language: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090731/hr3200_doyle_enbloc1cc.pdf

Anonymous @ 8/7/2009 8:51:39 AM

This is wonderful. Words cannot express my appreciation. To all the pioneers of this successful goal. I say thank you.

Anonymous @ 8/7/2009 6:52:38 AM

Way overdue..now just beginning!!!

Anonymous @ 8/7/2009 5:59:12 AM

At last! Thank you Autism Speaks. My family can now breath a little easier. One more battle won!

Anonymous @ 8/7/2009 5:50:35 AM

Great news, but what took so long....Autism is not different than any other disease/disorder... Now if Congress can pass reform on national standardized educational benefits for children on the spectrum- That would be even better... No two school systems are the same in providing services to these children...this is injust and not right. Lets keep moving forward...Thanks

Anonymous @ 8/7/2009 5:15:48 AM

As a mother of 2 on autism spectrum, practitioner working with aujtistics, and self employed paying for family healthcare insurance coverage, I say Congrats to us all! thanks to those who fought the fight.

Anonymous @ 8/5/2009 6:37:13 PM

Thank you Autism Speaks and others for helping to get this passed. I hope it improves outcomes for many families and they able to get the help they need.

Anonymous @ 8/4/2009 10:34:07 AM

Why was my commment deleted? I asked if the amendment included OT, PT and SLP.

Anonymous @ 8/3/2009 7:19:39 PM

I found the text of the amendment, I think. Is this it? http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090720/hr3200_doyle_1.pdf
Maybe I missed it, but nowhere in it did I see that it "include(s) behavioral health treatments as part of the essential benefit package."

Anonymous @ 8/2/2009 6:07:31 PM

This would be great news if it didn't come with the Health Care Reform bill. I fear this bill will NEVER pass the senate!!

Anonymous @ 8/2/2009 10:01:47 AM

This is great news as long as it is not a part of health care reform that includes a public option. I don't want the federal government telling me who my child can see or what she needs. Her doctor and her family know that. Everyone, be careful what you wish for!

Anonymous @ 8/1/2009 6:28:28 PM

I think this is a wonderful happening...and a long time coming.

Anonymous @ 8/1/2009 4:44:00 PM

its about time my daughter is ten and has autism she was diagnosed at ahe 5 her body is ten her brain is 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous @ 8/1/2009 4:36:56 PM

Congrats to all!

Anonymous @ 8/1/2009 4:36:55 PM

Congrats to all!

Anonymous @ 8/1/2009 3:05:04 PM

OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!!!! I'm so thrilled!!!!

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