This is a crosspost from "Autism Votes."
News Center House Energy and Commerce Committee Passes Autism Insurance Reform Amendment to “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act Of 2009”Key House Committee Stands Up for Families’ Access to Insurance Coverage of Autism Therapies
NEW YORK, NY (July 31, 2009) -- Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, today applauds the members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for passing Representative Mike Doyle’s (D-PA), autism insurance reform amendment to “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,” H.R. 3200. Mr. Doyle serves as Chairman of the Congressional Autism Research and Education Caucus in the House.
The amendment will prohibit discrimination in benefits against persons with autism by amending current sections of H.R. 3200 to include behavioral health treatments as part of the essential benefits package.
“We are grateful to Representative Doyle and his committee colleagues for passing this amendment to the health care reform bill. The legislation will ensure that families dealing with autism will be a part of larger health care reform," said Elizabeth Emken, Vice President of Government Relations for Autism Speaks. “Short of finding a cure for autism, there is nothing that can have a more significant impact on the lives of people with autism and those who love them than putting an end to insurance discrimination. Now is the time to finally right this terrible wrong.”
Watch Congressman Mike Doyle Make His Historic Pledge to the Autism Community on July 16, 2009:
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