Mike Smith talks with Phil Bayly on Autism Insurance Legislation

May 22nd, 2011. In 2006 groundbreaking legislation was passed in New York that eliminated many forms of autism insurance discrimination based upon a persons diagnosis of autism. This included visits to a immunologist, EEG, MRI's and other mainstream medical care.

Last year a bill was passed by the legislature but strongly opposed by dozens of state and National autism
organizations. Also opposing the bill was the NYS Occupational Therapy Association and the NYS Association of Counties. The Association of Counties said the bill would not provide coverage to autistic children and that the only cost savings to any entity was the insurance industry.  Governor Patterson vetoed the bill after his team analyzed it and after weighing the fierce opposition from most autism organizations.

In December of 2010 Michael Smith, Foundation For Autism Information and Research, Inc, John Gilmore,  Autism Action Network and Autism Speaks crafted a compromise bill. This legislation had strong support in the legislature, but, was very harshly amended in mid June to place barriers between doctors and patients. The bill is likely to be a very small step forward, but, only for some of the families who pay their insurance premiums. Limitations on Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy will not allow many children to maintain the current levels of function that they currently have.  This regression will result in the child having a overall, increased lifetime cost of care. Should people who work with this population have more influence than insurance companies? Should people who pay for insurance get the care they need and not just to put profits in the industry? Parents as well as the medical and scientific community believe we must treat patients with autism with an appropriate, individualized standard of care now, to give them a meaningful chance to live their lives as independently as possible and at a lower lifetime cost to the State.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• New York
• autism
• autism insurance bill
• Phil Bayly
• Channel 13

[Quantumerik]

Channel 13 listed Mike as representing "The Autism Council"... which I don't think even exists! Mike is chairman of the Foundation for Autism Information & Research, Inc.