News Release
Cam WardState Senator - District 14
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, contact:
(205) 664-1066
(205) 566-6746
www.camward.com
April 5, 2012 – Montgomery, Ala. – The Alabama Senate passed SB 283 today, reforming the coverage requirements for children who are on the Autism Spectrum. This legislation will coincide with an industry decision to triple the amounts of speech and occupational therapy available to children with Autism. It also provides more access to Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy, which can foster basic skills such as looking, listening and imitating, as well as complex skills such as reading, conversing and understanding another person’s perspective.
“With more and more of our children being diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum, it is only right that families are provided more access to care by their insurance companies,” Senator Cam Ward, SB 283 sponsor said. “I know first hand what families go through to assure access to these proven and needed therapies, because my own daughter is among those on the autism spectrum. While this bill is not perfect, it is another step down the road to providing adequate insurance coverage to those on the Autism Spectrum. This bill will give employers the opportunity to offer insurance coverage for their employees that is unprecedented in Alabama today.”
It takes people coming together to accomplish something truly remarkable. Passing Autism insurance reform is the result of the work of many people, including The Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council, House Sponsor Rep. Mac McCutcheon (R-Capshaw) and Insurance Companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. Senator Ward worked long hours through tough negotiations to fight for this access to care for Alabama’s children and families afflicted by Autism Spectrum Disorders.
“I am so proud of my colleagues for their votes on this bill. This is something I have worked tirelessly on for many years,” Senator Ward said. “If this legislation will allow just one child to gain improved skills from this affliction, it will stand among my proudest accomplishments not just in elected office, but of my entire life.”
“Families of individuals with autism work hard to provide for their loved ones – to provide opportunities for growth and learning,” Anna McConnell, State Autism Coordinator said. “Expanded insurance coverage can help ease the financial stresses that these families face every day.”
While state officials and the IACC worked hard on this legislation, no one does more than citizen advocates like The Autism Society of Alabama. Senator Ward was effusive in his praise for Bama Hager, Policy Advisor to The Autism Council of Alabama, and all of the families and friends of Autism Awareness who did yeoman’s work to keep this issue at the forefront of the legislature’s agenda this year.
“At Autism Society of Alabama, we are encouraged and thrilled that the Alabama Legislature recognized that Autism Insurance Coverage is an important issue to thousands of Alabamians affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder,” Hager said. “We look forward to better access to services for ASD and improved coverage for ASD therapies. ASA would like to thank Senator Cam Ward and the State Senate Leadership for their relentless support as we pursued Autism insurance coverage improvements. We are looking forward to the House of Representatives vote on the Autism Insurance Reform Bill.”
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