Rep. Atkins Supports Autism Bill

Governor to sign the Autism Insurance Legislation
Tuesday, August 3rd at 2:30pm @ Fenway Park
The invitation has been extended to everyone who contacted their legislators regarding this issue as this victory is for them!
There will be more information on Monday regarding gate entrance, etc. – check my website for the information – www.coryatkins.com

Below is a letter sent to constituents that had contacted Rep. Cory Atkins on the Autism Insurance law.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for contacting my office about H. 4935, the autism insurance reform bill, which would require private insurers to fund medically necessary treatments for autism.

As I discussed in my last letter, the House of Representatives passed a mental health parity bill in 2008.  This bill required insurance companies to cover treatments for mental health conditions including autism.  At the time it was my understanding that the coverage mandated by this bill was sufficient to treat autism comprehensively, and so I did not think H. 4935 was necessary.  However, I have since learned that the mental health parity bill of 2008 did not comprehensively cover autism treatment, and so earlier this week I voted in favor of H. 4935.

When H. 4935 was first introduced, my main concern was cost. I was hesitant to support the measure because I knew that insurers would raise premiums if they were required to cover additional services. Consumers and small business owners already pay exorbitant prices for health care, and I did not want to see these costs escalate further. However, a study by the state Division of Health Care Finance and Policy found that adding autism coverage would cause the annual claim cost per person to rise approximately $1.84 per member per month.  I realized this is an investment that we cannot afford to forgo.  Estimates indicate that lifetime care relating to autism costs approximately $3.2 million.  This cumulative cost is a financial burden not just on families, but also on the Commonwealth's early intervention services.  Requiring coverage for autism treatment will relieve a burden to families and to state services.

In addition, to help soften the financial impact, a provision was added to the original bill that will allow an insurer to drop the new autism coverage for three years if its overall insurance costs rise by more than one percent per year.  The bill also exempts insurers from paying for in-school services.

In 2011, it is estimated that nearly 700 children in Massachusetts will be diagnosed with this disorder.   Autism impacts one's ability to interact socially, communicate effectively, and sometimes it can leave an individual physically impaired or incapable of speech.  Therefore, I am pleased to have advocated for the bill, and I am glad that the legislature enacted it. 

Please know that your advocacy helped to bring this bill to my attention.  I thank you for being an active and vocal member of our community. 

Warmly,

CORY ATKINS

State Representative

14^th Middlesex District