Less than a month.
That’s how much time remains until the Virginia Mandated Benefits Commission (MBC) announces its recommendation regarding House Bill1588 at their November 19th meeting.
Once it is passed by the Virginia legislature, HB 1588 will provide up to $36,000 a year in coverage for life-changing treatments, including applied behavior analysis, for our children with autism. But first, the bill must receive a favorable recommendation from the MBC!
Momentum is on our side. In recent weeks, this historic piece of legislation has been reported on by The Washington Post as well as by Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN. Even so, HB 1588 will not pass unless you contact the legislative members of the MBC with the following message:
Autism is treatable. Insurance should cover treatment. Virginia families need help now!
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
LIGHT UP THE PHONE LINES! Over the next three weeks, it is crucial that every legislator who sits on the MBC hear this clear message over and over: Autism is treatable. Insurance should cover treatment. Be polite and persistent. Ask them to say “yes” to our children (who so often hear the word “no”) and to HB 1588.
The Commission Members are:
Delegate Clay Athey - (540) 635-2123
Delegate Tim Hugo - (703) 968-4101
Delegate Terry Kilgore - (276) 386-7011
Delegate Donald Merricks - (434) 836-3370
Senator George Barker - (703) 303-1426
Senator A. Donald McEachin - (804) 226-4111
No matter what district you live in, please contact all of these legislators. If you do happen to live in one of their districts, and you can find out if you do right here, call them again tomorrow and next week and the following week. The voices of their constituents are the ones that will most effectively convince them that this is the only solution to this heartbreaking situation. Store their numbers in your cell phones, speed dial if necessary! They must hear from you over and over during the next three weeks.
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