The Kansas Coalition for Autism Legislation (KCAL), Autism Speaks and representatives from the Autism Community will be headed to Topeka, KS today to speak with Senators and Representatives about supporting Senate Bill 12 (House Bill 2367) OR Kate’s Law.
Private health insurance in Kansas routinely denies coverage for the diagnostic evaluation and medically necessary treatments such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech therapy and occupational therapy for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). If enacted SB 12 (HB 2367) would require that private health insurance cover the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of ASD. In addition to the 15 states that have already passed legislation similar to Kate's Law, an autism insurance mandate is currently pending in 19 states.
Today’s group will be meeting at the First Presbyterian Church of Topeka (817 Southwest Harrison Street) at 9:30 to review the bill and then head to the capitol to visit with key legislators in the support of Kate’s Law to end the discrimination of those with autism.
"It has been heart wrenching for me over the years to see parents who wanted so badly to give their child the therapy that they could not afford, and scramble for fragmented services that were never covered by their insurance company, only to watch their lives disintegrate before them, and the domino effect it has on the family. Knowing their child could have done so much better if they had access to appropriate treatment is a painful reality they live with every day when they wake up and see their older child. This is unconscionable, and would never be tolerated if our children had a terminal illness." Anna Leitch mother of a young adult with autism spectrum disorder.
Business will benefit from Kate's Law in terms of higher employee productivity and lower taxes related to autism in the future. Parents of children with autism have the highest reported levels of depression and anxiety in parents with developmentally disabled children, and for those parents who are in the workforce, these stresses have a profound impact on their productivity. A recent study showed that 39% of parents of children with autism reported quitting, passing on a job or making major changes in a job related to the high costs of treating their child. By enacting this bill, the financial burden on these parents can be lifted, and they can become focused on their work, rather than on an ever-increasing debt situation.
With regard to taxes, if children with autism do not get access to speech therapy, occupational therapy and ABA, many of these children regress and grow up to require state-provided adult disability services.
This additional burden on the state will impact business in the form of higher future taxes. If we invest a small amount in these children now by requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of these therapies, we can save the state a substantial amount in the future.
Insurance companies say that premiums will rise as a result of this bill, but there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that the premium impact on businesses will be negligible. When there is a demonstrated societal and financial benefit associated with an insurance mandate, as there is with Kate's Law, it stands to reason that enacting the bill is absolutely the right thing to do for employees, for business owners and for the State of Kansas.
Autism is not going away and I am grateful for you tube videos posted my a mom of a severely autistic son with self injury because she's one of the few people bringing awareness to this side of autism
nickwrote on 1/29/2010 2:05 pm
I wonder if Kansas will cover costs for treatment options for rural families like online programs offered by rethink autism http://bit.ly/6s1G3J
YESwrote on 1/29/2010 1:06 pm
Yes, back to between the Doctor and Patient in agreement on the Plan of Care.
Not The Government telling the Doctor how he/she can practice.
Not, giving Granny or the debilitated a Tylenol for what ails or the "green needle" (euthanasia).
Do you think you need health care reform???wrote on 1/29/2010 12:47 pm
.
Sue Collinswrote on 1/28/2010 3:02 pm
There is enough stress on these families as it is raising children with autism. They should not have to fight to get coverage that should be afforded to them. It is mind boggling that insurance companies cover so many diseases/disorders but have excluded autism. It's time to act now!
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laautiemom wrote on 2/19/2010 1:31 am
Autism is not going away and I am grateful for you tube videos posted my a mom of a severely autistic son with self injury because she's one of the few people bringing awareness to this side of autism
nick wrote on 1/29/2010 2:05 pm
I wonder if Kansas will cover costs for treatment options for rural families like online programs offered by rethink autism http://bit.ly/6s1G3J
YES wrote on 1/29/2010 1:06 pm
Yes, back to between the Doctor and Patient in agreement on the Plan of Care.
Not The Government telling the Doctor how he/she can practice.
Not, giving Granny or the debilitated a Tylenol for what ails or the "green needle" (euthanasia).
Do you think you need health care reform??? wrote on 1/29/2010 12:47 pm
.
Sue Collins wrote on 1/28/2010 3:02 pm
There is enough stress on these families as it is raising children with autism. They should not have to fight to get coverage that should be afforded to them. It is mind boggling that insurance companies cover so many diseases/disorders but have excluded autism. It's time to act now!
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