|
Rep. Grisamore’s Autism Insurance Reform Efforts Take Important Step Forward as the Missouri House Passes Landmark Legislation
February 18, 2010
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – In each of the last three years, Rep. Jeff Grisamore, R-Lee’s Summit/Greenwood, has made efforts to require health insurers to provide coverage for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders. On Thursday, his hard work paid off as the Missouri House of Representatives gave final approval to a piece of legislation that would require state-regulated group insurance policies to provide coverage.
The House overwhelmingly passed HB 1311 & 1341 by a vote of 135-18. Grisamore’s passion and advocacy for children with autism is shared in the House by Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst, R-Manchester, who served as sponsor of this year’s bill with Grisamore serving as lead co-sponsor. Last year Grisamore and Scharnhorst filed identical bills combined as House Bills 298 & 357. In 2008 Grisamore served as the lone Republican sponsor of autism insurance legislation in the House with House Bill 2265.
Scharnhorst’s late grandson, Bryce, had autism. “I was happy for Dwight he could sponsor this year’s bill as it is legacy building for his grandson,” said Grisamore. “We don’t care who gets the credit as long as this gets done for children with autism and their families.” Together, Scharnhorst and Grisamore worked on both side of the state with fellow legislators such as Wayne Cooper-R, Camdenton and Jason Grill—D, Parkville, the sponsor of House Bill 1341.
Scharnhorst, Grisamore and Cooper served on an interim committee on autism spectrum disorders that held hearings in Kansas City, St. Louis and at the Capitol over the summer and fall. For the last two years and three legislative sessions, Grisamore has called the need for autism insurance reform an “emerging civil rights issue of our day, gaining exposure for the issue on YouTube and the NBC Today Show.
“Autism is one 12 major neurobiological disorders and is the only one of the 12 not covered by insurance,” said Grisamore. “As you look at the discussions in the 15 states that have passed similar legislation, it all boils down to one word: discrimination. It is simply wrong to discriminate against children with autism spectrum disorders and exclude them from insurance coverage when children with a whole spectrum of conditions from juvenile diabetes to ADHD are included in that coverage.”
During his floor speech today Grisamore pointed out that of the 15 states that have passed similar measures, six of them had Republican majorities and six Senates and five Houses passed their autism insurance reform bills unanimously with all but one of the 15 states doing so with overwhelming margins.
HB 1311 & 1341 would require group insurance policies to provide coverage for applied behavioral analysis services (ABA) for autistic children age 18 and younger with a maximum coverage of $36,000 annually. Grisamore said ABA therapy has been proven to produce significant improvements in children with autism, but that many families struggle to afford the expensive treatments.
The bill also would provide an exemption to businesses with 50 or fewer employees that show the mandate increased their premiums by at least 2.5 percent compared to the previous year.
Grisamore, a former small business owner and corporate president, said studies have shown an autism mandate will raise insurance premiums by less than 1 percent.
“I am not normally a supporter of government mandates. However, we already have more than 50 healthcare-related mandates on the books in Missouri,” said Rep. Grisamore. “This is one more that we critically need to ensure children with autism and their families have the diagnostic and treatment services they so desperately need, which will greatly improve long-term outcomes for their children.”
Rep. Grisamore has become a leading advocate in the Missouri House in fighting for autism and broader disabilities-related legislation. His personal passion for autism and advocacy for those with physical and developmental disabilities is driven by his experience as the parent of a child with special needs. The Grisamore family’s seventh child, Rebekah, died in 2002 from complications of Prader-Willi Syndrome. Her organ and tissue donation has benefited both Prader-Willi and autism research.
HB 1311 & 1341 now moves to the Senate for consideration, where the Senate has a similar duo like Grisamore and Scharnhorst in the House in Senators Scott Rupp-R, Wentsville and Eric Schmitt-R, Glendale who have sponsored and co-sponsored Senate Bill 618 that is moving its way through the Senate.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has also lent his bi-partisan support to autism insurance reform since last year when taking office. The Governor was joined by Rep. Grisamore and Senators Rupp and Schmitt in December on a state wide tour promoting this legislation.
During his remarks on the House floor today before the passage of HB 1311 &1341, Grisamore thanked Speaker of the House Ron Richard for making House Bill 1311 the first bill he referred to committee. Scharnhorst also thanked Rep. Kevin Wilson-R, Neosho who chaired the Health Insurance Committee that heard the bill and passed the House Committee Substitute. Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt was also thanked for his leadership in bringing insurance and autism advocates together and coordinating the legislation on the House floor.
In his closing remarks on the House floor today, Grisamore gave special thanks to the “autism moms” who supported his autism insurance reform bills the last three sessions, along with those of his colleagues in the House and Senate. When asked afterwards who those moms were, Grisamore gave tribute to Ginger Luetkemeyer of Jefferson City, Jennifer Gray of Lee’s Summit, Kelli Maxwell and Jennifer Whitty of Kansas City and Molly Schad of St. Louis. “Those women worked this issue with excellence, passion and sacrifice and deserve much thanks.”
| |
