Federal:
SAVE THE DATE – RALLY FOR INSURANCE REFORM SB 946
Senator Steinberg will be hosting two rallies to urge Governor Brown to sign SB 946 and ensure California children and adults with autism can access Behavior Health Treatment through private insurance. Please SAVE THE DATE so you can join us.
We are ALMOST there. SB 946 has been passed by the California Assembly and Senate and is sitting on the Governor’s Desk. Twenty seven states have enacted similar legislation – let’s ensure California is the 28th. California needs to take this important step forward!
More information will follow – but the dates and times are certain. Please spread the word far and wide to your friends, neighbors, providers, doctors and teachers. Bring your children; bring your stories; bring photos of your children.
Come thank Senator Steinberg for his leadership on this critical issue!!
Monday ─ September 26, 2011 - 12:00pm
Location: State Capitol Building Area, Sacramento
Friday ─ September 30, 2011 - 11:00 am
Location: TBD in the Bay Area
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History in the Making! (September 12, 2011)
As many of you know, the Autism Society Inland Empire is a proud member of the Alliance of California Autism Organizations (ACOA). Last year, we decided as a group that an Autism Insurance Mandate Bill was high priority - even when political leaders said it couldn't be done in this political and economic climate.
This morning, just after 1am, both houses of the Legislature adjourned the 2011 Legislative session after marathon floor sessions. I can't tell you how happy I am to announce that both the Assembly and the Senate have approved Senate Bill 946 (SB946) the Autism Health Insurance Mandate Bill and it will now go the Governor for his approval or veto.
This bill would be effective July 1, 2012, and would require California Health Insurance Companies to cover behavioral health treatment, such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and other prescribed intensive early intervention therapy, for those with autism. While this bill is not as comprehensive as our previous bill (AB171) - it excluded persons who are enrolled in government funded health programs, including Medi-Cal and Healthy Families from the bill's requirements - it is unique from other states because there are no caps or limits on the age of recipients or the types of services that will be mandated.
The legislation now heads to Governor Brown for approval, whose position on the bill is not certain. The Governor has until midnight on October 9th to sign, veto, or let SB 946 become law without his signature.
Watch for more information - we will be asking parents and professionals to contact the Governor and ask him to sign the bill. Our thanks and gratitude to Senator Steinberg and his staff, especially Dr. Lou Vismara, Assembly Speaker John Perez, and Assemblymember Jim Beall, Jr. for really fighting on our behalf of our community. A huge thank you to Rick Rollens, Kristen Jacobsen, Feda Almatiti, Dr. Karen Fessel, and all the members of the Alliance of California Autism Organizations who made this possible.
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Your help is needed! (September 8, 2011)
In the U.S. House of Representatives, the CARA bill (HR.2005) similarly must first move out of the Energy & Commerce Committee before it can go to a full vote on the House floor. But before the committee acts, it must receive confirmation from Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), as the House Majority Leader, that he will allow the bill to go to a floor vote. Autism Speaks has launched a radio ad campaign in Rep. Cantor’s home district (Richmond-Harrisonburg) encouraging him to support CARA. Leader Cantor was a co-sponsor of the 2006 CAA, serves on the Congressional Autism Caucus and has attended Walk Now for Autism Speaks events in the past.
For more information on how to support the CARA bill please visit autismspeaks.org
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Education Department Announces Regulations to Improve Outcomes for Infants & Toddlers with Disabilities & Their Families
(September 6, 2011) - The U.S. Department of Education has released the final regulations for the early intervention program under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These final regulations will help improve services and outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities. The department also released a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend Part B of the IDEA. Changes are being proposed relating to state or local agency use of a child's or parents public benefits or insurance (e.g., Medicaid) to pay for Part B services.
This information was recently added to Disability.gov. To learn click here.
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U.S. Senate Passes Health Care Reform Bill Containing Provision For Autism Insurance Reform and Cures Acceleration Network
Washington, DC (December 25, 2009) – Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, applauds the members of the U.S. Senate for yesterday passing an overall health care reform bill that contains provisions for autism insurance reform, as well as the funding to accelerate the scientific discovery of autism treatments and cures.
The provision for autism insurance reform was introduced in September by Senator Robert Menendez and passed by the Senate Finance Committee with the support of Committee Chairman Max Baucus. The provision will prohibit discrimination in benefits against people with autism by including behavioral health treatments as part of the essential benefits package.
The bill also included elements of the Cures Acceleration Network (CAN) Act, introduced in April by Senator Arlen Specter . Like the CAN Act, this provision of the health care reform bill would create a large new fund for, and focus on, "bench to bedside" research, creating an emphasis on more quickly translating research discoveries into practical medical applications. Autism Speaks was the first disease advocacy group to support the CAN Act.
“We are grateful to Senators Menendez, Baucus, Specter, and their Senate colleagues for passing this health care reform bill, ensuring that families dealing with autism are a part of larger health care reform,” said Peter Bell, Autism Speaks executive vice president for programs and services. “Now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that autism affects one percent of American children, the need for our legislators to ensure that families can afford the treatments their children need, as well as a redoubling of our federal government’s commitment to science and innovation in the search for a cure, has never been more important.”
“The addition of the Cures Acceleration Network to the health care reform legislation will create the urgency we desperately need at the federal level to push science toward real impact on people’s lives,” said Geraldine Dawson, PhD, Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer. “In the area of autism research, in particular, much needs to be done to translate important discoveries into treatments and therapies that can help individuals living with autism today.”
The Senate and House versions of the health care reform bills must now be reconciled and approved by both bodies before presented to President Obama for his signature.
Legislative Update
Communicating with your legislator
Writing Letters:
When writing to elected officials, address the letter to "The Honorable First Name Last Name," followed by the legislature name, then the city, state, and zip code. Start your letter with the person's title, then their name. For example:
For U.S. Congressional representatives:
Dear Representative First Name Last Name
For U.S. Senators:
Dear Senator First Name Last Name
For California Assemblymembers:
Dear Assemblyman (or Assemblywoman) First Name Last Name
For example:
The Honorable Jane Doe
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative Doe:
You can mail or fax your letter. If you want to influence your representative's vote on a particular piece of legislation, it's best to fax so it reaches them in time.
Phone Calls
Phone calls are a very effective way to let your legislator know how you feel. Every office has trained staff assigned to take constituent phone calls and keep track of comments, which are then given to the legislator every day and before votes.
E-mails
Sadly, due to the high volume of form e-mails, this is not the most effective method for communicating with your representative. Also, some offices are more e-mail friendly than others. To combat form e-mails, most legislators now suggest that constituents visit their individual web page and fill out a contact form. This is a much better way to communicate than sending e-mail to his/her e-mail address. Links to individual websites are provided below.
U.S. Senators
Every state has two Senators. Both are your representatives. The address for both Senators is: U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510.
The Senate website is:
Senator Barbara Boxer
(202) 224-3553
(213) 894-5000 in Los Angeles
FAX (213) 894-5042
boxer.senate.gov/contact
Senator Dianne Feinstein
(202) 224-3841
(310) 914-7300 in Los Angeles
FAX (202) 228-3954
feinstein.senate.gov/email.html
U.S. Representatives
The address for all U.S. Representatives is: U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515. If you don't know your representative, visit www.house.gov
and enter your zip code.
California State Senate
The address for all state representatives is: State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. Sacramento area codes are 916.If you do not know your state representatives, visit www.assembly.ca.gov
and click on "Find My District."
Attorneys & Advocates
Serving the Special Needs Child
2600 Mission Street, Suite 200
San Marino, California 91108
(626) 440-0028
