PITTSBURGH, June 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — AutismLink, the largest
autism advocacy organization in the State of Pennsylvania, is standing with
Governor Edward G. Rendell and Speaker of the House Dennis M. O’Brien in their
denouncement of the Senate Autism Bill. The Bill, HB1150, is scheduled for
vote today. The bill requires insurance companies to cover up to $36,000 of
autism-related treatment for individuals less than 21 years old, but was
gutted of all useful language by the Senate’s Banking and Insurance Committee,
headed by Indiana Senator Don White, a former insurance broker.
“This bill was carefully crafted to end insurance discrimination of
children with autism in Pennsylvania,” said Cindy Waeltermann, President of
AutismLink and parent of two children with autism. “Those who carefully
crafted the bill understand the system in Pennsylvania. Although the bill has
been endorsed by Autism Speaks, Pennsylvania families of children with autism
by and large reject the bill.”
“Make no mistake,” said AutismLink Executive Director and parent of a
child with autism, Rick Bryant, “The Autism Speaks team working on this bill
is comprised of individuals from New York, California and Maryland and they
are completely ignoring the advice and information given to them from
Pennsylvania advocates and/or clinicians.”
Speaker O’Brien agrees, “The current version of HB 1150 may look like it
gives coverage to families affected by autism, but it’s an illusion. This
version will actually hurt some families who have kids with autism,” said
House Speaker Dennis M. O’Brien. “We must have assurances in HB 1150 that any
standard used by the insurance companies is consistent with the minimum
standard used by Medical Assistance. Otherwise, families who receive certain
services under Medical Assistance are at risk of having those services denied
by private insurance. This risk is unacceptable.”
Lenore Wossidlo, a parent of a severely challenged child with autism in
Pittsburgh agrees, “I am appalled at what Autism Speaks did to SB1150 to spoil
it for these kids who can do so much when given the services they need. I
stand behind the hard work of Speaker O’Brien.”
ABOUT AUTISMLINK - Established in 1999, AutismLink is Pennsylvania’s
largest autism information and education network. To learn more about
AutismLink, visit www.autismlink.com
http://www.autismcenterofpittsburgh.com
SOURCE AutismLink