"Del. Jackson H. Miller (R-Manassas) said he opposed the bill because it only applies to some businesses, it would help a limited number of families and he doesn't believe federal law allows the state to cap annual costs at $35,000. He later asked Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (R) to determine whether federal law allows the General Assembly to cap costs at $35,000 a year. Cuccinelli has yet to issue an opinion.
And, considering Howell's power over bills and committee assignments, other members of the Republican-controlled House courted danger by trying to amend or kill the proposal, while the conservative group Americans for Prosperity targeted Howell (R-Stafford) in recorded phone calls statewide. The Virginia Tea Party also attacked the bill.
"This creates a slippery slope to a nanny-state type of government, eroding away the freedom of choice and autonomy that businesses and individuals enjoy today," said Mark Kevin Lloyd, chairman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriot Federation.
The Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia, Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Business and the Virginia Association of Health Plans also remain opposed, citing the expense of another mandate."
Not shocked about the Tea Party, given a member told me that Jimmy was a drain on his tax dollars and should have been aborted after prenatal testing. Genius, that one... Not that autism can be detected and, hey, I thought the Republican Party was pro-life? Jackson Miller.... wasn't it three years ago that he co-sponsored autism legislation to cover children up to 18? Or was that two years? He knows the political reality - that what needs to get through isn't going to. Nothing is going to get through Richmond, that Richmond that puts business interests above the needs of children; paid, well funded lobbyist-donors above the needs of voters.
This bill won't help Jimmy. That has sucked a lot of my enthusiasm out for it and I am heartbroken for my son and the other kids this won't help. I admire those women who have put so much effort into, knowing their kids aren't going to be covered either - they are better people than I ever will be. Autism is a medical condition. ABA is a therapy that helps. This bill's passage still needs to happen to help families with young children who need to get intervention today. It will save expenses in lifetime care and education - not the lobbyists principal interests, but Virginia's tax dollars, which the people in Richmond are supposed to be stewards for. Show a little vision here.
Insurance companies won't do the right thing unless you force them to do so. That isn't a nanny state - if that dude from the Tea Party needs a Viagra prescription, his insurance covers it in Virginia. Why are impotent men more important than autistic kids?
4 comments:
Unfortunately, ASD isn't a medically diagnosed disorder. It can only be professionally diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist using the DSM, making it a mental disorder. The insurance companies will treat it as such.
Even if the treatment was covered by insurance and the age of coverage was increased, it still would not solve many problems because there are not enough trained professionals to handle the increased demand. So the insurance companies will hire from where? Most likely the public school systems. Where will the public school system hire the replacements? Most likely they won’t due to budget constraints and the ability to point to this coverage.
No problem is solved, they will just rob Peter to pay Paul.
Chuck
That's a lobbyist line... my son's autism was diagnosed medically by not one but two neurologists at Children's Hospital. He is currently being followed by UVA by a well regarded developmental pediatrician, again a sub-practice of neurology. I don't know any BCBAs in my son's school system, so they wouldn't be hired from there. Matthew's Center and Dower and Associates would be the types of places that would handle the therapy and, yes, they would have to build additional capacity.
I don't know what school system has all these ABA therapists and is giving out therapy. Let me know so I can put my house on the market and move. Sounds like heaven to me...
ASD can never be diagnosed with medical testing. The DSM only defines psychological disorders and there is no way to diagnose without using the DSM. Downs is medical, Fragil X is medical, Retts is medical, ASD is psychological. There is no medical test that can accurately diagnose ASD.
If the teachers are BCBA at Mathews, they would probably switch. Nakia is pretty good, but she might lose some. BCBAs just don’t go online and 6 months later get certified. It takes at least 2 years. And most likely those will be the individuals that will be providing the service through insurance, the non-stellar performers and the ones with no field experience whatsoever. That problem will last for at least four to five years. And the churn rate at schools, insurance, and private providers will all go through the roof. Anyone will be lucky if they have the same therapist for more than six months.
Chuck
My son doesn't have ASD. He has autism. It is neurologic in basis. So sayeth two neurologists. Even the definition of classical autism out there include the neurological piece in them. Maybe other ASD conditions are psychological, but not classical autism.
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