Please contact your Senator via letters, phone calls or emails; even if you have written previously, and do it as soon as possible. Our insurance bills passed the House in June, now we need to face the Senate. Letter writing is the best way (but calls and emails work too) to let your Senator know that you want their support for autism insurance legislation, House Bills 4476 & 4183. You can use the template below, but please use your own words and personalize it. See below also for senator names and all contact info.
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Know your Senator but need his/her contact info? Click here:LIST OF SENATORS WITH CONTACT INFO.
Dear Senator _____,
While other bills up for debate are important and worthy of your attention, I think you will find that those covering autism treatments can be distinguished from the rest. Individuals with autism are the only group completely excluded from coverage by most insurance policies. In most policies, there is no coverage, not even for the most evidence-based treatments.
Please consider the following facts:
1. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate, learn and relate to others.
2. Regardless of policy language, insurers reject almost all claims for autism diagnosis and treatment, forcing many children to forego treatment.
3. Michigan spent nearly $100 million, on salaries alone, during the school year 2006-07 educating students with ASD (Dr. Koenigsnecht, 2009)
4. A recent Texas study determined the state could save up to $771.5 million in special education costs within the first 10 years after passing an autism insurance coverage law.
5. A cost analysis of MI's proposed insurance legislation, conducted in 2009, estimated a rate increase of about .7% (James Bouder Study).
6. 15 states have passed similar legislation and 31 states have either introduced legislation or have autism insurance reform bills pending.
7.Michigan ranks 13th in the prevalence of autism (US Dept. of Education), autism increased 1098% in the state between 1990 - 2000 (ages 6 - 21, IDEA data)
8. A majority of children, 87%, who receive appropriate intervention and treatment experience marked improvement - 47% recover "typical" function and 40% make significant improvement.
Please consider the facts and help stop the discrimination of our most vulnerable population. HB 4476 and HB 4183, requiring insurance coverage for autism screening, diagnosis and treatment, passed the House in June and are now in the Senate. The autism epidemic will have serious, long term costs for the state and society, unless we address the treatment needs of these children immediately. Most of all, this is having a devastating effect on Michigan's families.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
Phone Number
Dedicated to promoting Autism Insurance in Michigan through networking and legislative reform.
AIM BIO:
AIM is comprised of over 3000 residents of Michigan who have pledged their support in passing the autism insurance legislation in Michigan. The sole aim of AIM is to pass autism insurance legislation in Michigan with the help of those 3000+ members.
AIM Position Statement
It is our position that
1) legislation should be passed in the state of Michigan that will require insurance companies to cover diagnosis, treatment, and services for all people wiht Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
2) all people with ASD should be covered, regardless of age.
3) Autism Spectrum Disorder is defined as any of the pervasive developmental disorders as defined by the most recent edition of the DSM.
4) this coverage should include treatments as prescribed or ordered by the insured's treating physician or psychologist and that no insurer may deny coverage for an individual based solely on the fact that the individual is diagnosed with an ASD.
5) covered treatments shall not be subject to visit limits.
6) there should be a provision for an expedited arbitration process if an insurance company denies coverage or changes coverage status.
7) coverage should not be construed as limiting access to benefits or other services that are otherwise available to an individual.
2) all people with ASD should be covered, regardless of age.
3) Autism Spectrum Disorder is defined as any of the pervasive developmental disorders as defined by the most recent edition of the DSM.
4) this coverage should include treatments as prescribed or ordered by the insured's treating physician or psychologist and that no insurer may deny coverage for an individual based solely on the fact that the individual is diagnosed with an ASD.
5) covered treatments shall not be subject to visit limits.
6) there should be a provision for an expedited arbitration process if an insurance company denies coverage or changes coverage status.
7) coverage should not be construed as limiting access to benefits or other services that are otherwise available to an individual.
List of Supporting Organizations as of 4/23/10
ACT Network |
Ann Arbor Families for Autistic Children's Education and Support |
Autism Advisory Group
|
Autism Insurance in Michigan (AIM) |
Autism Resource Network |
Autism Society of America |
Autism Society of America - Oakland County Chapter |
Autism Society of Washtenaw County |
Autism Society of WestShore |
Autism SpeaksAutism Alliance of Michigan |
Beaumont Hospitals |
Behavior Analysts Association of Michigan
|
Detroit Medical Center
|
Early InterventionCenter |
Easter Seals |
Elder Disability Rights Association Section of the State Bar of Michigan |
Family Chiropractic Clinic |
First Capital Directories |
Forestview Lanes |
Fravel Financial Services |
GFWC Madison Heights Intermediate Womens Club |
Glenn Buege Chevrolet |
Henry Ford Health System |
HOPE Network
|
Kaufman Children's Center for Speech, Language, Sensory-Motor & Social Connections, Inc. |
Michael James Associates |
Michigan Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals |
Michigan Association of IntermediateSchool Administrators |
Michigan Association of School Administrators |
Michigan Association of School Boards |
Michigan Association of School Psychologists |
Michigan Association of School Social Workers |
Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health |
Michigan Nurses Association |
Michigan Pharmacists Association |
Michigan PTA |
Michigan Secondary School Principals Association |
Michigan Speech Language Hearing Association |
Middle Cities Education Association |
Monroe IntermediateSchool District |
National Alliance on Mental Illness - Michigan Chapter (member of Partners for Parity) |
National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Detroit Section
|
The Abilities Center |
The Ann Arbor Center for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
|
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District
|