Sunday, June 26, 2011

http://autisminsurancemi.blogspot.com/
June 2011 Vol 3, Issue 1

AIM

Autism Insurance in Michigan

Act Now!
advocacy alert act now
Thank you for your continued support of AIM's autism insurance legislation effort. Your advocacy enabled us to get so close last year to passing this legislation! With the combined support of so many all around the state, we are confident that 2011 is the year that Michigan will pass the insurance legislation! The Senate has re-introduced legislation and plans to take this issue back up in the fall. We need your help now!
How Can You Help?
Michigan legislators are preparing to go on summer recess. Now is the time to find them in district, get to know them, and educate them about the personal impact on your family and on the entire state of Michigan.
1. Contact your legislators!
Find your legislator here: www.votesmart.org
2. Report back to us on what they say!
Post about the conversation you had with your legislator(s) on the AIM Facebook page. If you are not on Facebook, send us an email and we will post your comments. We want to compile a list of every single legislator who has been contacted by the end of the summer, so that we know who we still need to contact in the fall when session resumes.
3. Let us know if any follow-up is needed with your legislator!
AIM is here to support you. If you or your legislator is in need of any facts or even if you want someone to go with you to your meeting, please let us know. We will get you the information you need. We will also send the legislator any kind of information they need, or make additional follow up phone calls or visits.

Contact us!

Visit our blog

Find us on Facebook

Email

Forward to a Friend

Many of your friends and family members may have a new email address. Please forward this email on to everyone you know who can help with the advocacy effort and encourage them to sign up for these Action Alert emails, even if they think they have done so in the past.

Autism Insurance Bills Introduced
Click below to see a copies of the bills that were recently introduced in the Senate. House bills have not yet been introduced. Please read these bills, and let us know if you have any questions about their content!

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.

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 Alliance of Michigan
Autism ASK

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
DTE Energy Company

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
Image One Corporation

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
Rehmann CPAs Troy, MI

The Abilities Center

The Ann Arbor Center for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
The Children's Center of Wayne County

Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District
Wayne County

If your organization is not on this list and you would like to show your support, please email your organization name and your contact information for verification to traveltrio@verizon.net Thank you!



Jim Bouder's Testimony 6/9/09

Espinozas' Testimony 6/9/09