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Region's lawmakers endorse autism insurance
Cassandra Oldham, a Leesburg resident and mother of three, has two sons diagnosed with regressive autism. Because she cannot afford therapy for both, she said, she finds herself having to choose which one to provide for.
“Do I help the one that needs it the most, or do I help the one that will go the furthest?” Oldham said, addressing a crowd gathered at Capitol Square in Richmond Jan. 15. “These are questions no parent should ask themselves – not in Virginia.”
In Virginia now, health insurance companies are not required to provide coverage for autism and other behavioral disabilities.
A bill sponsored by Del. Bob Marshall (R-south-central Loudoun) aims to change that, giving more than 7,000 children in Virginia access to medically necessary, evidence-based autism services up to age 21 with an annual cap of $36,000.
It's a small cost to businesses, Marshall said.
“If our entrepreneurs can’t figure out how to find ... one Starbucks cup of coffee a month, nothing is going to save them. No amounts of bailouts are going to save them,” Marshall said during the autism rally.
Some argue, however, that lawmakers should focus on creating affordable health insurance coverage for more people instead of seeking to provide expensive health coverage for fewer people.
“While mandated health insurance benefits may make things more comprehensive, they also make it more expensive,” said Keith Cheatham, vice president of government affairs for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
Sen. Chap Peterson (D-Fairfax) disagreed: “I know all the arguments against [the bill], but the bottom line is this is one of those issues that makes sense to do ... for Virginia families.”
Judith Ursitti, the regional director of state advocacy relations for Autism Speaks, said she wants families and others with autistic children to be treated the same way as those families that have children with chronic health problems.
“This is not a disorder caused by a refrigerator mother; this is a disorder that can be treated. Our kids have potential,” Ursitti said. “We have hope for them and we are just asking for a seat at the table for our children.”
Del. David Poisson (D-Sterling), who is co-sponsoring legislation that would require autism coverage in the commonwealth, joined Marshall at the autism conference to promote their bill.
“Every child in Virginia ought to have the opportunity to live their lives to the very fullest,” he said. “In order to be able to do that, their families shouldn’t have to find themselves in a financial ditch.”
NOTE: Amanda Ladden-Stirling is a student at Virginia Commonwealth University who is participating in Capital News Service, a student-run wire service that covers the General Assembly.
I am not from Loudoun County but I am a Virginia resident with a child with Autism. I have met Casandra Oldham and other parents that are in the same situation. Although we only have one child on the spectrum I can only imagine double the burden you would feel. HB 1588 has to happen for The Oldhams and for all of the families in Virginia.
Posted by VadaMW
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