State Issues <META content="autism, autistic, Autism Speaks, NAAR, CAN, Cure Autism Now, signs of autism, autism symptoms, autism treatment, autism spectrum disorder, autism research, autism speaks, autism information, autism diagnosis, autism" name=keywords ?> <META content="" name=description mental retardation, mentally retarded, pervasive development neurotransmitters, orderly surroundings, autistic schools, neurons, pdd, brain disorders, communication, reactions, senses, cells, sounds?,autism, autistic, Speaks, NAAR, CAN, Cure Autism Now, of autism, symptoms, treatment, spectrum disorder, research, speaks, information, autism diagnosis, autism?? signs> <META content=autism4me.info name=designer> <META http-equiv=imagetoolbar content=false> <META http-equiv=imagetoolbar content=false> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><LINK href="style.css" type=text/css rel=stylesheet> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3243" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV id=wrapper> <DIV id=global><A href="default.htm">Home</A> | <A href="faqs.htm">FAQs</A> | <A href="contact.htm">Contact</A> </DIV> <DIV id=header> <H1>Autism 4 Me</H1> <P>Through my Blue Eyes</P></DIV> <DIV id=navigation><A href="aboutus.htm">About Autism</A> | <A href="productcatalog.htm">Product Catalog</A> | <A href="news.htm">News</A> | <A href="policies.htm">Child Development</A> | <A href="gettingstarted.htm">Autism Movie Feeds</A> | <A href="mystory.html">My Story</A></DIV> <DIV id=content> <H1> </H1> <DIV class=box> <H2><SPAN class=headline-green> <SPAN class=headline-green> State Issues</SPAN></SPAN></H2><SPAN class=bodycopy> <SPAN class=bodycopy> Most states do not require private insurance companies to cover even essential autism treatments and services. In the absence of coverage, families often pay as much as they can out of pocket for services that can cost upwards of $50,000 per year, often risking their homes and the educations of their unaffected children â€“ essentially mortgaging their entire futures. <BR><BR>Autism Speaks has put together eight arguments in favor of private insurance coverage of autism-related services. These arguments seek to justify the importance, efficacy, and costs associated with autism insurance coverage. Please feel free to use this document as you speak with your own legislators about the importance of this legislation for your family.<BR><BR><SPAN class=bodycopy> In April, the Autism Insurance Benefit Restoration Bill, a bill requiring all private insurers to pay for the provision of treatments for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, was introduced in the Pennsylvania House. The House bill was introduced by House Speaker Dennis O'Brien and the companion PA Senate bill was introduced by Senator Jane Orie.<BR><BR><SPAN class=bodycopy><STRONG>HB 1150 HAS PASSED IN THE PA HOUSE!!</STRONG> In July 2007, House Bill (HB) 1150, the Autism Spectrum Disorders Coverage bill, was passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The passage of this bill in the House brought the parents in Pennsylvania one step closer to acquiring the private insurance coverage for autism-related services they need for their children.<BR><BR>Autism Speaks congratulates Speaker Dennis O'Brien, the bill's champion, and all of the families dealing in the autism community for their unrelenting effort to help get this bill passed in the House and for their continued support of this legislation as we take the fight to the Senate. We have made great progress, but<STRONG> we will not stop until we can say that we can start covering our kids!<BR><BR></STRONG><SPAN class=bodycopy> This fall the battle for autism insurance coverage is Important on every level you could possibly imagine. The fight for rights will continue.</SPAN><BR></SPAN><BR></SPAN><BR></SPAN></SPAN></DIV></DIV> <DIV id=sidebar style="WIDTH: 179px; HEIGHT: 209px"> <H4> Additional News </H4> <UL> <LI><A href="epiaa.html">EPIAA/Services Bill</A> <LI><A href="takeaction.html">Take Action</A> <LI><A href="combatting.html">Combatting Autism</A> <LI><A href="legislativeagenda.html">Legislative Agenda</A> <LI><A href="dod.html">DoD Appropriations</A> <LI><A href="stateissues.html">State Issues</A> <LI><A href="otherlegislations.html">Other Legislations</A></LI></UL> <H4> </H4></DIV> <DIV id=footer> <P>Autism4Me © 2007 | Graphic Design by dzdesigns</A></P><A href="default.htm">Home</A> | <A href="faqs.htm">FAQs</A> | <A href="policies.htm">Child Development</A> | <A href="contact.htm">Contact</A> |</A></DIV></DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>