advocate for insurance parity bill to come before WA legislature

the Health and Long-Term Care Committee heard testimony about SB5203 (Shayan’s Law) for autism insurance reform in Washington State this past Wednesday January 28th. Paco and I both went to Olympia for the hearing; it was very similar to the Sunrise Review. There’s a sign-up sheet on a table in the hearing room. First-come first-signed-up. You can choose to testify or not and show whether you are pro or con for the bill in question. There were 10 pages of names and about 1-1/2 hours to hear testimony. There was a young woman (12 years old) who read aloud testimony she’d written; she was non-verbal at two years old and through intenstive, high-quality ABA therapry, Speech etc. she had lost her autism diagnosis and was doing very, very well! Neither Paco nor myself got a chance to testify in-person. Instead we sent written testimony to the committee. The committee “calls for” or schedules a vote in the Senate on the bill. Of the over 300 people that came to the hearing there were three “cons” only; representatives from Premera, Regence and some other Insurance Guy whose affiliation I didn’t catch. The testimony in favor of the bill was powerful, persuasive and articulate. The “concerns” raised by the insurance representatives were deftly countered and disproved by subsequent testimonies I was happy to see. (After finishing Omnivore’s Dilemma my analogy is: which bill is likely to do more good for the constituents… the Farm Bill endorsed by ConAgra, Cargill and Coca-Cola Corp? Or the Farm Bill endorsed by sustainable farmers themselves?) Lots of analysis and research into other states with similar legislation was done before drafting this Washington Law and that work shows. Family and friends have all sent letters to their Legislators urging them to support Shayan’s Law. I believe it will be passed in the 2009 session!

There are bill numbers now! Next are hearings: House Health care & Wellness Committee for HB1210 and Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee for SB5203. Now to write to everyone I know and see if they will write to their Legislators.

House and Senate Bills are drafted and both have good sponsorship! I have written to my Senator and my 2 House Reps twice and called them all once. It looks good to get both bills voted on in 2009. There are some amazing people in the WA Advocacy group who have done superhuman work to get this legislation where it is today!

in Olympia on Friday. Over 100 people came! In Washington State before a bill can be brought onto the floor for any kind of vote it is reviewed by an impartial panel and then a recommendation is made to the sponsoring legislator. Senator Marilyn Rasmussen (her grandson has autism) testified, 2 doctors from UW came, a BCBA therapist and a physical therapist came (both testified) and I think about 20 parents gave testimony in favor of the proposed legislation. The testimony from the parents was heart-wrenching. Especially the fathers – who tried to be stoic but at some point always came to tears. There were two “suits” from various insurance lobbies who argued about numbers, eligibility, oversight of practitioners etc. Some of their concerns seemed legitimate but the amazing woman who wrote the bill has been working for years on this (she knows her facts and figures) gave me some great information on every point the suits brought up. There is a 10 day window now where folks can submit more written testimony to the review panel. The panel has specific review criteria:(1) social impact, (2) financial impact and (3) evidence of health care service efficiency. Although I think it’s important to have the testimony be personal I would like to have some facts and numbers as persuasive support.

Faxed letters to my district senator and both house representatives. Looks like the bill has a sponsor – so it first must be reviewed and commented upon by the Healthcare Committee.

of an insurancy parity bill that several autism advocacy groups are working to get into the WA Senate and House this fall. Similar bills passed recently in Illinois and Louisiana. The bill would get coverage for treatments recognized as effective for kids with autism (speech therapy, ABA). The bill does not apply to ERISA (self-insured) companies like the very large telecommunications company I work for. I enjoyed my trip to the state capitol in February for Focus Day (Washington PTA) and am looking forward to both writing letters and (I hope) meeting some legislators in person to get support for this bill. Should get interesting with the governorship up for election this fall again.