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Autism insurance bill lands on governor's desk
Autism insurance bill lands on governor's desk
Published: Friday, May 25, 2007 - 2:00 am
By Liv OsbyHEALTH WRITERlosby@greenvillenews.com
What's your view? Click here to add your comment to this story.
A bill that would require insurance coverage for children with autism passed the state House on Thursday and is on its way to the Governor's Office.
Intensive early intervention has been shown to have a remarkable impact on autistic children, helping many of them to become mainstreamed. But it's costly, often more than $50,000 a year, leaving many families unable to afford it, or going into debt to finance it.
If the bill is signed into law by the governor, insurance would pay for treatment for children up to age 16 up to a maximum of $50,000 a year beginning in July 2008.
"We could not be more thrilled and grateful," said Marcella Ridley, a Columbia mother who's been advocating for the measure. "This is landmark legislation."
Read online: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007705250344
Governor should support coverage for autistic children
By Liv OsbyHEALTH WRITERlosby@greenvillenews.com
What's your view? Click here to add your comment to this story.
A bill that would require insurance coverage for children with autism passed the state House on Thursday and is on its way to the Governor's Office.
Intensive early intervention has been shown to have a remarkable impact on autistic children, helping many of them to become mainstreamed. But it's costly, often more than $50,000 a year, leaving many families unable to afford it, or going into debt to finance it.
If the bill is signed into law by the governor, insurance would pay for treatment for children up to age 16 up to a maximum of $50,000 a year beginning in July 2008.
"We could not be more thrilled and grateful," said Marcella Ridley, a Columbia mother who's been advocating for the measure. "This is landmark legislation."
Read online: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007705250344
Governor should support coverage for autistic children
Bill would provide needed therapy for young people up to $50,000 a year
Published: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 2:00 am
State lawmakers approved a bill that would require private insurance to cover treatment for autistic children. Gov. Sanford should sign the bill.
A spokesman for the governor on Friday said the bill had not yet reached Sanford for his review. In the past, however, Sanford has been reluctant to impose mandates on the insurance industry. The hope among advocates is that he will set aside his personal misgivings and approve this needed legislation.
In 2005, a similar situation arose: Sanford, despite his reservations, allowed a bill to become law that required many private health plans to provide greater coverage for serious mental illness. Sanford refused to sign the bill but neither did he veto it, and by his passive support it became law.
The current autism bill is equally worthwhile. Autism, a disease that can severely impair a young person's ability to communicate, form relationships and adapt to change, is the only neurological disorder not required to be covered by private insurance in South Carolina. The bill would require insurance to pay for treatment for children, age 16 and under, up to a maximum of $50,000 a year beginning in July 2008.
In South Carolina, about 2,000 children under 18 have autism. Advocates argue that early intensive therapy can do wonders for some autistic children. Advocates say that about half of children who get at least 40 hours of therapy a week can enter the first grade on time. Another 40 percent make considerable progress, they say.
But that therapy can cost up to $75,000 a year, putting it out of reach of many families with autistic children. Advocates say families across this state are forced to get second mortgages on their homes or face bankruptcy trying to provide the intervention their children need. Or they face the heart-wrenching experience of placing their children in group homes or institutions -- although there's often a 15-year waiting list for such institutions.
Even though therapy may be costly for insurers, it could save the state considerable sums in the future. An autistic child who receives insufficient treatment sometimes can end up being cared for in an institution at taxpayer expense. That can cost the state $4 million to $7 million for each patient.
Compassionate consideration for children suffering from autism helped persuade state lawmakers to follow the lead of at least 17 other states that require coverage. Early intervention for children also may save the state millions of dollars in the future. Gov. Sanford should sign the bill and give autistic children the opportunity to lead more productive and perhaps even more fulfilling lives.
Read online: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007705290336
Please help us by calling or emailing SC Governor Sanford's office and let them know you support the bill on his desk requiring private insurance companies to cover medical costs up to $50,000 per child/year with Autism. You can send to anyone and they can put in the comments section on the email on the Governor's website that they know a family in SC or know Kyle, etc. and support this bill....because this could help to set precedent in other states.
Phone number is 803-734-2100 or email at http://www.scgovernor.com/Contact.asp?sitecontentid=33
We need your help and thank you from the bottom of our hearts...............for our son Kyle!
State lawmakers approved a bill that would require private insurance to cover treatment for autistic children. Gov. Sanford should sign the bill.
A spokesman for the governor on Friday said the bill had not yet reached Sanford for his review. In the past, however, Sanford has been reluctant to impose mandates on the insurance industry. The hope among advocates is that he will set aside his personal misgivings and approve this needed legislation.
In 2005, a similar situation arose: Sanford, despite his reservations, allowed a bill to become law that required many private health plans to provide greater coverage for serious mental illness. Sanford refused to sign the bill but neither did he veto it, and by his passive support it became law.
The current autism bill is equally worthwhile. Autism, a disease that can severely impair a young person's ability to communicate, form relationships and adapt to change, is the only neurological disorder not required to be covered by private insurance in South Carolina. The bill would require insurance to pay for treatment for children, age 16 and under, up to a maximum of $50,000 a year beginning in July 2008.
In South Carolina, about 2,000 children under 18 have autism. Advocates argue that early intensive therapy can do wonders for some autistic children. Advocates say that about half of children who get at least 40 hours of therapy a week can enter the first grade on time. Another 40 percent make considerable progress, they say.
But that therapy can cost up to $75,000 a year, putting it out of reach of many families with autistic children. Advocates say families across this state are forced to get second mortgages on their homes or face bankruptcy trying to provide the intervention their children need. Or they face the heart-wrenching experience of placing their children in group homes or institutions -- although there's often a 15-year waiting list for such institutions.
Even though therapy may be costly for insurers, it could save the state considerable sums in the future. An autistic child who receives insufficient treatment sometimes can end up being cared for in an institution at taxpayer expense. That can cost the state $4 million to $7 million for each patient.
Compassionate consideration for children suffering from autism helped persuade state lawmakers to follow the lead of at least 17 other states that require coverage. Early intervention for children also may save the state millions of dollars in the future. Gov. Sanford should sign the bill and give autistic children the opportunity to lead more productive and perhaps even more fulfilling lives.
Read online: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007705290336
Please help us by calling or emailing SC Governor Sanford's office and let them know you support the bill on his desk requiring private insurance companies to cover medical costs up to $50,000 per child/year with Autism. You can send to anyone and they can put in the comments section on the email on the Governor's website that they know a family in SC or know Kyle, etc. and support this bill....because this could help to set precedent in other states.Phone number is 803-734-2100 or email at http://www.scgovernor.com/Contact.asp?sitecontentid=33
We need your help and thank you from the bottom of our hearts...............for our son Kyle!
