 Autism Speaks Joins New York Autism Community In Calling For An End To Autism Insurance Discrimination In The Empire State
Special Joint Senate Committee Hearing Explores Legislation Requiring Insurers to Cover Autism Diagnosis and Treatment
NEW YORK, N.Y. (October 23, 2009) – Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, today joined members of the New York autism community in calling on the state legislature to pass autism insurance reform legislation during the current legislative session... Read more
 Autism Speaks, State Representative L’italien, AFAM Join Massachusetts Autism Community In Calling For An End To Autism Insurance Discrimination
NEW YORK, NY (October 21, 2009) -- Autism Speaks, State Representative Barbara L’Italien, and Advocates For Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM) today joined parents of children with autism and other autism advocates in calling on the state legislature to pass autism insurance reform legislation at a hearing before the Joint Financial Services Committee. Many advocates testified at the hearing, including Lorri Unumb, Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel for Autism Speaks and mother of a mother of an eight-year-old son with autism, and Larry Cancro, Senior Vice President of the Boston Red Sox and Autism Speaks New England Chapter Board Chair... Read more
 News Release From the Office Wisconsin's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance: Governor Doyle Announces Implementation of Autism Coverage
(October 19, 2009) Madison, WI— Governor Jim Doyle today announced an emergency rule implementing new provisions in state law requiring insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders.
"We have worked long and hard for this day, and I am thrilled that children across the state living with autism will now have access to the care and support they need and deserve," Governor Doyle said. "We are also helping take the squeeze off the hardworking families that support these children."... Read more
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 Autism Speaks Co-Founder Bob Wright Interviewed on Fox Business News About the Effort to Secure Federal Autism Insurance Reform
New York, NY (October 28, 2009) -- Today, Autism Speaks Co-Founder Bob Wright spoke on Fox Business News about the support in Congress for inclusion of behavioral health treatments as part of the essential benefits package in both the Senate and House health care reform bills. Click Here to watch!
 October 23, 2009 IACC Meeting Summary
Bethesda, MD (October 23, 2009) -- The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) met on Friday, October 23, at the National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, Md.
IACC Chair Thomas Insel, M.D. opened the meeting by reporting that NINDS Director Story Landis, Ph.D. had resigned as a federal member of the Committee. In a previous IACC meeting, Dr. Landis had left behind written comments concerning remarks that public member Lyn Redwood had made. Dr. Insel apologized on behalf of the IACC to Ms. Redwood. He said that this situation served as a “teachable moment” for the committee to ensure it was fulfilling one of its core values — to engage in respectful dialogue. He also expressed his concern that the public has lost trust in the IACC. He challenged the members to lead with the power of ideas and to regain this trust through respect of the diversity of views in the autism community. Following the opening remarks by Dr. Insel, the morning session began with a panel called “Families Living with Autism,” moderated by Autism Speaks Executive Vice President Peter Bell...Read more
Senate Finance Committee Passes Health Insurance Reform Bill Containing Menendez Amendment for Autism Insurance Reform
Washington, DC (October 13, 2009) -- Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, today applauds the members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee for their 14 to 9 passage of a health care reform bill, the America’s Health Future Act, containing an amendment for autism insurance reform.
The amendment, introduced in September by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and passed by the Committee with the support of Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), will prohibit discrimination in benefits against people with autism by including behavioral health treatments as part of the essential benefits package... Read more |
