KANSAS CITY -
Missouri Senators debated Tuesday whether insurance companies should be required to cover diagnosis and treatment of autistic children. Families with autistic children are eagerly watching the debate and hoping the bill will pass.
The bill would mark a big victory for families with autism who often are forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars for autism treatment programs and therapy out of their own pockets. But one Missouri mom said this bill still doesn't go far enough.
Justin Grauel is working hard on his reading and writing. When he goes home, his mother continues to work with him.
"Before when he came in he was not spelling, now he's up to almost 100 words," paraprofessional Brenda Reed said.
Justin's mother is trained in ABA, applied behavioral analysis, because when Justin was a child they couldn't afford to hire someone.
"So I ended up quitting my job and got trained in ABA myself, so I've done the majority of his therapy," Lorinda Grauel said.
Grauel is excited about the bill requiring insurance funding for autism therapy.
"Autism is one of 12 neurological disorders and the only one not covered by insurance, so up to this point I felt like it was discrimination against autism," she said.
But Grauel said the problem is this bill only requires insurance coverage until age 18. Justin is 17-years-old, so it wouldn't help families like hers.
"Autism is a lifelong medical condition just like diabetes," she said.
Her son's teacher agrees, but said the current bill is a good start.
"It will be good for these families," Reed said.
Insurance companies have been fighting the bill, claiming everyone's rates will increase. But supporters say in the 15 states that passed similar laws, rates have increased less than one percent. Grauel points out four of those states have no age limits.
"I think it's an issue of social justice and equality and basic rights," Grauel said.
A similar bill in Kansas called Katie's Law has been in the works fro three years. It has an age limit of 21-years-old.
A Kansas advocacy group said they feel very good about having the support to get it passed this year.
The bill would mark a big victory for families with autism who often are forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars for autism treatment programs and therapy out of their own pockets. But one Missouri mom said this bill still doesn't go far enough.
Justin Grauel is working hard on his reading and writing. When he goes home, his mother continues to work with him.
"Before when he came in he was not spelling, now he's up to almost 100 words," paraprofessional Brenda Reed said.
Justin's mother is trained in ABA, applied behavioral analysis, because when Justin was a child they couldn't afford to hire someone.
"So I ended up quitting my job and got trained in ABA myself, so I've done the majority of his therapy," Lorinda Grauel said.
Grauel is excited about the bill requiring insurance funding for autism therapy.
"Autism is one of 12 neurological disorders and the only one not covered by insurance, so up to this point I felt like it was discrimination against autism," she said.
But Grauel said the problem is this bill only requires insurance coverage until age 18. Justin is 17-years-old, so it wouldn't help families like hers.
"Autism is a lifelong medical condition just like diabetes," she said.
Her son's teacher agrees, but said the current bill is a good start.
"It will be good for these families," Reed said.
Insurance companies have been fighting the bill, claiming everyone's rates will increase. But supporters say in the 15 states that passed similar laws, rates have increased less than one percent. Grauel points out four of those states have no age limits.
"I think it's an issue of social justice and equality and basic rights," Grauel said.
A similar bill in Kansas called Katie's Law has been in the works fro three years. It has an age limit of 21-years-old.
A Kansas advocacy group said they feel very good about having the support to get it passed this year.
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