[Andrew Kavchak]

Ohio Lawmakers Push Autism Coverage Bill

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Fully insured health plans would be required to cover diagnosis as well as treatment for autism under an Ohio House bill advocates say would expose autistic children to early treatment that will benefit them the rest of their lives.

The proposal, which has bipartisan sponsors, is modeled after the two-month-old mental health parity law that requires health insurance providers to cover certain psychological conditions. Currently, many health plans cover the diagnosis of autism but not treatment.

"I just feel like taxpayers shouldn't have to pick up the tab," said Tamara Heydt, a mother of two autistic children, 9-year-old Gavin and 11-year-old Garrett. "My insurance should have to pay for it. Insurance companies pay for other neurological disorders. I feel like it's discrimination."

The family spent $60,000 on treatment in one 18-month period.

The Heydts were able to stave off bankruptcy because her children qualified for Medicaid waivers after their diagnosis. The family is insured through Medical Mutual of Ohio.

Joseph Gibbons, director of government relations for Medical Mutual, said his company doesn't cover autism treatment and doesn't believe any employer who buys insurance has ever asked for the coverage.

Insurance industry officials want more details about the House bill, which is being sponsored by Republican Rep. Jon M. Peterson and democratic Rep. Ted Celeste, both of suburban Columbus. Insurance officials are concerned the bill would lead to more mandates based on a disease or health condition.

"Each individual has the belief that their cause is the one that the government needs to find the solution to," said Kelly McGivern, president of the Ohio Association of Health Plans. "We believe employers who buy policies should make the decision."

Continuing treatments, involving such things as speech therapy, a psychologist working on socialization skills and home health aides, aren't covered, said Jacquie Wynn, director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Autistic children, she said, need 30 hours to 40 hours of intervention a week.

Wynn said 30 percent of families who come to the center for treatment leave because they can't afford it.

"There's a cost savings in the reduction of aggressive behavior or the self-care skills they learn," she said. "With short-term, early intervention in their early years, you see the payoff in their lifetime."

Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com

[Andrew Kavchak]

Hi Folks,

As many of you know, the autism community is not a particularly cohesive group with lots of different beliefs, opinions, and ideas, etc. While this diversity is a great thing at an art show, etc. the fact is that it is used by politicians and bureaucrats to do nothing, or little, when it comes to policies and programs.

When the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs inquired into the funding for the treatment of autism, they heard from 50 witnesses and received many briefs. Many people such as Dr. Laredo, Dr. Ofner, Jean Lewis (the FEAT BC rep), myself, etc. stressed that the medical/scientific literature reveals only one treatment, namely IBI/ABA, is effective. For over 20 years this treatment has been the gold standard of autism treatment and that no other treatment had the kind of scientific studies and evidence to back it up. However, the committee also heard from the "we have lots of stories to tell – no studies, just anecdotes" and the "autistics don't want to be cured" crowd….even one guy who was convinced that autism was caused by MSG in the diet and that the removal of MSG from all foods (they have that in a lot of Chinese food, don't they?) would solve the problem.

Notwithstanding the fact that the committee had several doctors among its members, including a world famous heart surgeon who repeatedly talks about the importance of research (presummably using the "scientific method"), the Senate report was a disappointment in this area as they did not state clearly what is the state of scientific research in the area but merely summarized what people "argued" and what they "favoured" and "felt". This is rather amazing because Health Canada actually has staff to evaluate the studies of pharmaceuticals who wish to peddle new drugs on the market. No one can get a licence to sell new drugs without emerging from a vigorous approval process that is based on studies and the scientific method. Some of those scientists even complained publicly several years ago when their budgets were cut back and they were forced to rush some studies and cut dangerous corners, etc.

However, when it comes to autism treatment, suddenly the scientific method does not matter and what people, all people, "argue", "favour" and "feel" is suddenly the criteria of choice for politicians and decision-makers when it comes to autism treatment policies and programs. Recently the Minister of Health posted a message on his department website that the cause and cure of autism are not known, and neither is the most effective treatment. A colleague of mine recently wrote to the Minister and told him that his statement was false. My colleague recently got a letter back from the Minister's "Chief of Staff" which actually quoted the Senate report's paragraph about treatment alternatives and what people "argued", "favoured" and "felt" as the basis for Mr. Clement's statement and to justify holding the symposium to address the knowledge gaps instead of actually doing something now with respect to the development of a National Autism Strategy that would help those who need the treatment get access to it.

This is amazing stuff that leaves one shaking one's head in disbelief. In the history and evolution of humankind I thought that people like Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, etc. ushered in a new era known as "the scientific revolution" where the laws of nature would be discovered using the scientific method and that pagan beliefs would be relegated to those practicing "voodoo" in the third world. After all these centuries we have managed to develop so much through science and technology. I remember when I was a child that we actually got three guys to the moon and back, alive! But in 2007, what counts in the evaluation of treatments is what people, all people, including those who have no idea what the scientific method consists of, "argue", "favour" and "feel" with no reference to a single study that meets the criteria of scientific analysis. I had no idea that such medieval thinking and paradigms still survived among the political elite in Canada, and that they could so successfully used to persuade the masses of the necessity of preserving the status quo.

In the near future we should see the publication of a new book by Dr. Sabrina Freeman about the importance of science in evaluating autism treatments. It will be an eye opener for those living in the middle ages.

Cheers!
Andrew Kavchak
Ottawa

[Andrew Kavchak]

National Autism Research Symposium

Four Points Sheraton Hotel
6257 Airport Road · Mississauga, Ontario L4V 1E4 · Canada
Phone: (905) 678-1400

Thursday November 8th 2007Windsor room

6:30 PM Welcome from the organizers – Dr. Michael Kramer, Scientific Director, Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

6:45 PM Is Anybody Really in Charge Here? A Call to Coordinate Diagnostic Procedures with School Supports for Kids with Autistic Spectrum Disorders – Daniel Share-Strom, college student

7:00PM Autism: Now What? – Jennifer Overton, parent and playwright

7:15 PM Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Recent Advances and Outstanding Research Questions – Susan Bryson, Dalhousie University

7:30 – 9:00 PM Cash bar and reception
Friday, Nov. 9th 2007Kingston room

7:00 AM Continental breakfast
8:00 AM Welcome – Dr. Michael Kramer
8:05 AM Welcome – Hon. Tony Clement, Minister of Health, Government of Canada

8:20 AM Introduction of facilitator – Dr. Barbara Beckett, Assistant Director, Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, CIHR

8:25 AM Overview of symposium – Susan Goodman, Facilitator, Policy Planning Plus Inc.

8:40 AM State of the science· Autism Genetics: What We Know Now and Why It Is Important – Dr. Stephen Scherer, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto· Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Current Rates, Time Trends and Surveillance – Dr. Eric Fombonne, McGill University· Neurophysiology and cognition – Dr. Laurent Mottron, Université de Montréal

9:40 AM Qs and As – the state of the science

9:50 AM Health break

10:10 AM Panel discussion: Research perspective on early intervention – moderated by Dr. Susan Bryson, Dalhousie University· The Behavioural/Developmental Continuum of Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review – Veronica Smith, University of Alberta· Outcomes for Children in the Ontario IBI Program – Dr. Nancy Freeman, Surrey Place Centre · Early Intervention Outcomes in British Columbia: Two- and Five-Year Follow-up – Dr. Pat Mirenda, University of British Columbia· Effectiveness of the Nova Scotia EIBI Model: Preliminary Data – Dr. Isabel Smith, Dalhousie University· Developing Clinical Practice Guidelines for Intensive Behavioural Intervention in Ontario – Dr. Peter Szatmari

11:40 AM Screening and diagnosis· Screening and diagnosis of ASD: Best practice, recent advances and what does it mean for Canadian families? – Dr. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, University of Alberta· Screening and Diagnosis in Teens and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The need goes on …” – Dr. Lillian Burke, Regional Support Associates, Woodstock, ON

12:15 PM Lunch – provided

1:00 PM Complementary and alternative treatments· Complementary and alternative treatments: a critical review – Dr. Wendy Roberts, Hospital for Sick Children

1:25 PM Adolescent and adult perspectives· Adolescents and adults: co-morbidity and service needs – Dr. Peter Szatmari, McMaster University· Interventions for Asperger Syndrome: Current Research and Future Directions – Dr. Kevin Stoddart, social worker, Toronto

2:10 PM Qs and As – screening & diagnosis, complementary & alternative treatments, adolescents & adults

2:30 PM Breakout discussions – choice of 6 subject areaso Knowledge translation: How do we improve access to and utilization of research findings and information about autism? o Intervention: What makes interventions successful? What are the research gaps and priorities? How can research better contribute to clinical practice and policy development?o Complementary and alternative treatments: What do we know about the benefits of complementary and alternative treatments for people with autism? How they can be integrated with mainstream treatments?o Lifespan issues: What are the research gaps with regards to adolescents and adults with autism? o Screening and diagnosis: Is there a gold standard? What is the role of families, educators, community organizations etc.?o Causes: What is the role of genetics and environmental factors? How can this knowledge inform interventions/programs and the daily lives of individuals and families with autism?

3:30 PM Health break

3:45 PM Reporting back from breakout sessions – Rapporteurs

4:45 PM Wrap-up – Susan Goodman, Barbara Beckett

5:00 PM Adjourn

[Andrew Kavchak]

Hi Folks,

If you are interested in reading the federal government's reply to the Senate Autism Committee recommendations, you can access it by visiting the homepage of the Autism Society of Canada.

http://www.autismsocietycanada.ca/index_e.html

If you scroll down the page you will see the link. If you scroll down the page even further you will see links to two letters that the ASC sent to Minister Clement on August 6 and October 3 regarding the autism "symposium" that is being choreographed by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). You may recall that last year, just one day before a FEAT demonstration on Parliament Hill to mark the second anniversary of the Auton decision, Minister Clement suddenly announced a new set of "autism" initiatives, including holding a "symposium". Well, the symposium was supposed to be in the Spring, and was then postponed to next week (November 8 and 9). It is "by invitation only" and nothing has so far been published about what is on the agenda, although I was verbally told the agenda will not address policy issues, but strictly issues of research. Presummably they will discuss what we know, where are the gaps, and discuss research areas for future studies. I would have thought that the research community would already have meetings of this type on a regular basis. Anyways, the letters from the ASC to the Minister Clement give an idea of how the mandate of the symposium appears to have changed, etc… Worth reading.

[Andrew Kavchak]

Hello Minister Clement,

In your recent reply to the Senate Committee report "Pay Now or Pay Later: Autism Families in Crisis" you completely ignored the crisis and tried to minimize its reality by stating that there was insufficient evidence to support the claim of a growing prevalence rate. This is incorrect and demonstrates that your understanding of the facts is deficient. A scan of the autism environment reveals that you are in fact the only person who seems to believe what you are saying.

For example, a newly-published article on addressing autism in the school setting in an online journal for those in the field of education in the U.S. opened with the paragraph copied below. How is it that the U.S. CDC and Department of Education can actually keep records of such figures and have proof of the rising numbers…while in Canada the best you can do as Health Minister is spend a year (so far) on studying the feasibility of gathering prevalence data and use misleading statements to justify total inaction on the policy development front with respect to access to treatment for kids with autism? Surely you can do better than that. Please consider asking our American neighbours how they do it when it comes to gathering data and providing treatment. Why waste valuable time trying to reinvent the wheel?

Even if the increase in prevalence rates is strictly due to better diagnosis and a wider scope of the definition of "Autism Spectrum Disorders" and not to an actual increase in the prevalence of ASDs, the fact is that 1 in 150 is a lot…and not one province offers the core healthcare treatment of Intensive Behaviour Intervention (IBI) under Medicare.

Our community needs some leadership at the federal level to develop a National Autism Strategy. Your reply to the Senate report and recommendations were profoundly disappoiting and our whole community urges you to rethink your approach in this matter.

Yours truly,
Andrew Kavchak (parent of a child with autism)
_________________________________________________

From: http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1295

Addressing Autism

How school districts can improve prospects for students with autism.

By Leslie Werstein Hann

October 2007

AS THE FASTEST GROWING DEVEL-opmental disability, autism presents one of the greatest special education challenges facing school districts today. In February, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control released data showing that about 1 child in 150 has a form of autism, when previous estimates put the figure at 4 or 5 per 10,000. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the number of children age 3 to 21 in federally supported programs for autism increased from 22,000 in the 1993-1994 school year to 223,000 in 2005-2006.

[Andrew Kavchak]

While Federal Health Minister Tony Clement posts messages on his Department of Health website marking Autism Awareness Month saying that: "Though much progress has been made through research, care and education, we still do not know what causes autism nor the most effective treatments and interventions" it would appear that everyone else except him in fact knows what treatments and interventions are "getting positive results".

______________________________________________

From: http://www.emaxhealth.com/119/17626.html

Autism Treatment Program Getting Positive Results

A program designed to enhance social and communication skills for young children with autism spectrum disorder is providing added benefits to their families.

The interim results of an independent program evaluation conducted by IWK Health Centre Research Services and Dalhousie University indicates that after one year of Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI)treatment, virtually all 27 children in the first phase of the program had significantly improved communication skills. According to tests and parental feedback, they also had improved problem-solving skills and reduced behavioural problems.

"The implementation of the EIBI program has done wonders for our boys — both academically and socially," said Tracey Avery, a mother of two children with autism who participated in the EIBI training in Halifax. "Parenting children with autism is extremely challenging. Receiving help to achieve many goals means so much to parents, but also makes a life-changing difference for these children."

"I'm very pleased to see this program is truly making a difference in the lives of children and families dealing with autism," said Health Minister Chris d'Entremont. "As the program becomes fully implemented, we expect to improve the future of even more young children."

A major aspect of the program involved teaching parents the skills to elicit language from the children. Mrs. Avery said this enabled the family to communicate with one another, making every day less stressful.

Many of the children were about a year and a half behind in language-development skills when they began EIBI treatment. On average, children gained more than a year's worth of language skills in the first 12 months of treatment.

"Words cannot express how we felt when Kyle started talking after five years of silence," said Ms. Avery. "Brandon started to interact with others and was much more aware of his environment." More than 88 per cent of parents surveyed indicated they would highly recommend the program to other parents who have young children with autism.

Some parents surveyed also indicated that improved behaviour and reduced symptoms increased family participation in community activities with their children.

The EIBI program is delivered by a multi-disciplinary treatment team that provides individualized programming and intervention for each child.

The program is offered through district health authorities and the IWK Health Centre, in collaboration with Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centres.

EIBI helps develop communication, play and other functional skills. It helps children learn how to relate to, and to function more effectively in, family and community life. EIBI can be provided in a variety of settings, including in the home, at day-care centres, preschools and within other community environments. It enhances other services already available for children with autism and their families across the province.
_______________________________

[Andrew Kavchak]

I can think of a couple of other things I would like to ban too…Like "doctors" who suggest we should not do too much early screening because the system can't handle the consequences ("not currently feasible")! (See the two articles below – The Globe & Mail article again demonstrates the contrast between the US mentality and culture and that of Canada's "Medicare".)

_____________________
October 30, 2007

THE OTTAWA CITIZEN
PAGE: A10

Ban swimming with dolphins as autism treatment, groups urge

Mark Henderson, Citizen Special

Swimming with dolphins is promoted as one of the few treatments that can help children with disorders such as autism. But it should be banned because it is cruel to the animals and dangerous to patients, and there is no evidence that it actually works, a report from a leading conservation group says.

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society said dolphin-assisted therapy (DAT) was "expensive and potentially harmful," and the group's call to end it has been endorsed by the group Research Autism. Both say the techniques exploit vulnerable families and captive animals, and have no place in medicine.

The therapy places patients at serious risk of injury from their contact with dolphins, which are wild and can be aggressive or harm people inadvertently because of their strength, the society found. They have been known to bite, ram and slap swimmers, hold them underwater and engage in sexual activity.

The therapy also exposes people and animals to the risk of infection. Many dolphins carry bacteria that can infect human beings and some are infected with bacteria that cause brucellosis, which causes muscle pain.

DAT raises stress among captive animals and encourages the removal of dolphins from the wild.

All this costs the families of ill and disabled people thousands of dollars for therapeutic techniques that have never been found to be effective.

Cathy Williamson, the author of the report, said: "Having researched this industry, the only recommendation we can make is that there is a total ban on DAT. This therapy involves vulnerable people and also exploits the dolphins, which are forced to interact with people in conditions that are far from suitable for wild animals.

"We know that keeping dolphins in captivity has serious welfare implications for these animals, including a shorter life expectancy than in the wild, and we are saddened that the growing DAT industry is causing more and more animals to be subjected to a life in captivity." Richard Mills, of Research Autism, said: "We understand that parents will wish to do anything that might potentially help their child, but we would urge people to exercise caution when considering such an undertaking." The group's website gives the treatment three exclamation marks, indicating a therapy with very strong evidence of harmful effects.
_______________________
October 30, 2007
GLOBE AND MAIL
PAGE: A8

AUTISM

Autism groups support earlier screening
UNNATI GANDHI

Canadian autism groups are putting their weight behind an American call for universal screening for the disorder, but pediatricians here are wary of the realistic benefits of doing so.

The split comes as the American Academy of Pediatrics at its annual meeting in San Francisco yesterday made its strongest push to date to screen every child twice for autism by the age of 2, warning of symptoms such as failure to babble at nine months and one-year-olds who don't point to toys. The advice is meant to help both parents and doctors spot the disorder sooner. And while there is no cure, experts say that early therapy can lessen its severity.

"Absolutely, we need a screening procedure in place," said Margaret Spoelstra, executive director of Autism Ontario, adding there is currently no standard screening practice in place in Canada. "To screen means that we're simply casting the net more widely in order to determine who might have autism out there. For us, it's better to have some false positives than to miss kids."

But too many false positives is precisely where the problem lies in practice, according to a leading Montreal pediatrician, because that would overload a system that is already strained.

Going from a screening to therapy requires a multidisciplinary team of specialists who can properly diagnose the disorder, said Emmett Francoeur, director of the child development program at the Montreal Children's Hospital and former president of the Canadian Paediatric Society.

But the waiting list for such an evaluation is as long as a year in some parts of Canada.

"We know that the earlier you diagnose them, the better the outcome. That we're pretty sure of," he said last night. "Unfortunately, unlike a broken bone or pneumonia, where you can take an X-ray and come up with a diagnosis, it takes multiple observers looking at multiple aspects of a child's development to diagnose autism."

So, he said, if screening were to be increased, that would mean an increase in the number of evaluation teams and the amount of services for treatment – all of which are not currently feasible.

"Should all of this be done? I think so, if you're talking about the moral aspects of trying to help every possible child who has autism," Dr. Francoeur said. "Can it be done? It's a really tough question because the governments have to decide where to put all their money."

As for screening, Dr. Francoeur stressed that there are several methods that are used, but only a few are accurate enough to warrant widespread promotion.

The two American Academy of Pediatrics reports, which will appear in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics, list numerous warning signs, such as a four-month-old not smiling at the sound of mom or dad's voice, or the loss of language or social skills at any age.

The academy's renewed effort reflects growing awareness since its first autism guidelines in 2001. A 2006 policy statement urged autism screening for all children at their regular doctor visits at 18 months and 24 months.

The authors caution that not all children who display a few of these symptoms are autistic and they said parents shouldn't overreact to quirky behaviour.

The new reports say children with suspected autism should start treatment even before a formal diagnosis. They also warn parents about the special diets and alternative treatments endorsed by celebrities, saying there's no proof that those work.

[Andrew Kavchak]

This article is in today's (October 26, 2007) Toronto Sun, Ottawa Sun, Edmonton Sun, and Winnipeg Sun.

Autism foes rip feds

Groups 'disappointed' by failure to come up with nationwide strategy

ALAN FINDLAY, NATIONAL BUREAU

The federal government is facing criticism from autism support groups, frustrated parents and senators after rebuffing their calls to implement a national strategy to cope with the disorder.

WRITTEN RESPONSE

The Conservative government's position comes in its written response to a recent Senate committee report calling for a national approach to the disorder affecting approximately six in 1,000 children.

While it highlights several funding initiatives involving research and transfer payments to other governments, it suggests more study is needed to form a consensus on the spectrum of disorders under the autism rubric.

"Accordingly, governments do not yet know enough about ASD and its treatments to implement effective and well-informed strategies that would lead to meaningful outcomes," the 12-page response states.

Titled "Pay Now or Pay Later: Autism Families in Crisis," the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology called for a national strategy to address the drastically unequal public funding and treatment provided from province to province.

Sen. Jim Munson complimented the government on what it's doing, but said it needs take on more responsibility.

"The status quo is not good enough, and that's what this report is," said Munson. "Whatever it takes to alleviate this suffering sidesteps any jurisdictional concerns."

Various autism support organizations held a teleconference this week to discuss the government's latest remarks on the issue. The groups were not pleased.

'VERY DISCOURAGED'

"People are very discouraged they (the government) seem to have dodged the issue," said Marg Whelan, executive director of the Geneva Centre.

"There's definitely some disappointment," said Laurie Mawlam, executive director of Autism Canada. "We are of the view that this is a health crisis and we need more targeted programming and a comprehensive national autism strategy for individuals with autism spectrum disorders."
Autism Society Canada president Christine Dade said it was unfortunate the government response to the committee came out during Autism Awareness Month.

"We had hoped the government would pick it up (the report) and wave the flag," said Dade. "We were quite disappointed on it."

ILLUS: photo of JIM MUNSON No to status quo
______________________________________________

[Andrew Kavchak]

Debates of the Senate (Hansard)
2nd Session, 39th Parliament,
Volume 144, Issue 6
Thursday, October 25, 2007

Government Response to Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee Report on Funding for Treatment of Autism

Hon. Jim Munson: Honourable senators, we have received from the Minister of Health the government's response to the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, Pay Now or Pay Later — Autism Families in Crisis.

That report brought to the government's attention the plight of Canadian families who have children with autism and are scrambling to obtain the care and treatment they need. As honourable senators know, families are trying to fend for themselves; they are making huge sacrifices to buy treatment and the stress is tremendous. Our report said it well; families are in crisis.

The Senate report made several recommendations. It called on the government to play a leadership role on behalf of autism families, in particular, leading a national autism strategy.

It was disheartening then to read the government's response and learn the primary role that the government sees for itself is that of "facilitator of enhanced evidence."

Honourable senators, families who have children with autism need help. If I am disappointed with the government's response, think how disappointed autism families are. Much of the 11-page report is devoted to explaining what the government is already doing — words like "ongoing support" and "continued collaboration" pepper the document.

Autism families already know how little the government is doing. Their bank books confirm it. They do not need a bureaucratic report to back this up. The bottom line is that the government thinks the status quo is good enough. We know it is not.

In the last election, the Prime Minister proposed a $100 monthly payment for families with children to help defray the cost of child care. At that time, he urged opposition parties to support the plan even though we know $100 a month is less than one tenth of what full-time child care actually costs. The Prime Minister said that this amount is better than the "status quo, which is zero."

Let us take a page from the government's playbook and call it an "autism allowance," perhaps providing $500 or $1000 a month to families with autistic children. Like a child care allowance, that is about one tenth of what they actually need. That will not even come close to covering the full cost of treatment, but it will sidestep any jurisdictional concerns. Using the Prime Minister's own words, funding will allow parents to choose the option that best suits their needs and will certainly be better than the status quo, which is zero.
Like the child care allowance, an autism allowance would be far from adequate, but it would be a start; at least a step toward acknowledging the hardship and stress that autism families live with every day. I remind honourable senators that this government posted an historic $14-billion surplus this year. Let us use it wisely and help autism families.

[Andrew Kavchak]

Hi Folks,

Surprise! Surprise!

Recently a State of California "Blue Ribbon" Commission studied the autism situation and referred to the growing number of kids being diagnosed with autism as a tsunami. It further recommended that there be appropriate and equitable health insurance coverage for children with autism. At the federal and state levels in the US there are strong disability rights legislation that requires autism treatment to be covered in health insurance. Now the US Autism Speaks organization is endorsing the report and urging swift legislative action to translate the recommendations into law in California. This is not surprising since the Autism Speaks organization in the US put a massive effort behind the federal "Combating Autism Act" which passed through Congress and which President Bush signed into law which put another $1 billion into treatment, research, diagnosis, etc.

Now compare that to the recent farce in Canada. We had a Senate Committee chaired by the former Minister of Defence and Mayor of Toronto (Eggleton) and including a world-class heart surgeon (Keon) – that's as close as we get to "blue ribbon" in Canada – study the whole question of funding for treatment of autism. During the hearings the head of the Autism Speaks organization in Canada appeared as a witness before the committee on the same panel as the former President of the Autism Society of Canada. I was in the Committee room when I heard Senator Jim Munson ask them both if they support legislative action to include autism treatment in Canada's public health insurance system (Medicare) and they both said "No". The ASC President's reasons were that addressing health issues would not simultaneous address education or social support issues. What a strage statement and approach to lobbying government on behalf of our community! Imagine a hungry beggar on the street being offered a loaf of bread by a baker and refusing to take it because he insists on being given the bakery. And what was the head of Autism Speaks Canada's reason for opposition to this proposal? It would get bogged down in Parliament. Oh dear! A speed bump on the road…better turn back! Right now not one province in Canada offers autism treatment (IBI/ABA) under any public health insurance program (Medicare – OHIP in Ontario) and these two Canadian autism organization heads were not helping to change that.

The difference between US and Canadian governments approaches to autism is striking, and only matched by the contrasting positions of autism organizations north and south of the border…even those that are supposedly affiliated! If our community continuously gets the short end of the stick it should come as no surprise.

Andrew Kavchak
Ottawa
___________________________________
News Released: October 25, 2007
SAN DIEGO AUTISM SPEAKS CHAPTER ENDORSES
CALIFORNIA BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON AUTISM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EQUITABLE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA October 25, 2007 Non Profit News

(PRLEAP.COM) San Diego, Calif., October 25, 2007 – The San Diego Chapter of Autism Speaks today announced the organization’s endorsement of the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism’s recommendations to ensure appropriate and equitable health insurance coverage for children with autism. These recommendations were finalized and presented to the California State Legislature and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Autism Speaks urges that these recommendations are swiftly translated into legislation to be introduced in the 2007-2008 Legislative Session.

Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the United States. One in 150 children are diagnosed with autism, which is more than the number of children diagnosed with AIDS, juvenile diabetes and cancer combined, yet many of their treatments and therapies are not covered by private or public health insurance. However, autism insurance reform fits well within the state’s practice of smart mandates, having minimal cost/premium impact and providing an essential and extraordinary benefit to the affected population.

“Autism Speaks commends the Commission and its staff for reaching out in countless ways to parents and advocates across California and for listening to our concerns about appropriate and equitable health care insurance for children with autism,” said Robert Blitz, Chapter Advocacy Chair, Autism Speaks San Diego. “We believe that all health plans and insurers should provide a full range of services for children with autism, including intensive behavioral treatment, such as Applied Behavioral Analysis, a highly effective, evidenced-based intensive behavior modification therapy.”

According to the report, coverage of health care, behavioral, and psychotherapeutic services for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is limited, inconsistent or excluded altogether. Health plans may deny services for ASD for reasons related to medical necessity that are at odds with medical science. Thus, the frequent denial of these services for ASD by some private health plans may be inconsistent both with current scientific evidence as well as with the standards and approaches that are applied to other illnesses and medical conditions. Finally, health plan denials of ASD services often do not acknowledge or reference the emerging standards of care and best practices that are being developed at autism centers of excellence.

“With a successful push to legislation, California will join twelve other states in addressing this crisis by implementing autism-specific insurance legislation,” added Albert Wang M.D., Internal Medical Physician, Blue Ribbon Commissioner, Parent and Founder of Friends of Children with Special Needs.

Autism Speaks also supports the Commission’s recommendations for early identification and intervention, improving access to services, preparing teachers and other school-based personnel and increasing awareness and knowledge of autism among law enforcement officers and first responders.

The Commission’s report can be viewed at http://senweb03.senate.ca.gov/autism/whatsnew.html.

About Autism
Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The diagnosis of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.

About California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism
The Blue Ribbon Commission, a joint legislative task force of health experts, business leaders, affected family members and academics, was formed in April 2005 by California Senate President pro Tem Don Perata and California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez.
Early on in their research, the Commissioners and staff identified three crucial yet insufficient areas of current health policies regarding people with autism. Based on these identifications, task forces were created to address the existing gaps in Early Identification & Intervention, Education & Professional Development and Transitional Services & Supports.

About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism, and to advocating for the needs of affected families. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Vice Chairman, General Electric, and served as chief executive officer of NBC for more than twenty years. Autism Speaks has merged with both the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) and Cure Autism Now (CAN), bringing together the nation’s three leading autism advocacy organizations. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit http://www.autismspeaks.org.

Contact Information
Robert Blitz
Autism Speaks
Email Autism Speaks
714-783-7295
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