BIG NEWS: The Senate passed Autism Bill S2245 by 40-0 today! BIG THANKS to Barbara LItalien , Ann Guay, Mass Advocates for Children, and the legislators who supported the bill (and anyone else I may have missed)! Barbaras comments yesterday before spending today on Beacon Hill: the omnibus autism bill that unanimously passed the House in April. Passage of comprehensive autism policy has been a focus of mine for the three years I chaired the Autism Commission and the 18 months since we filed the bills that were folded into the omnibus bill.The Senate added Mass Health coverage of ABA behavior therapy and Augmentative communication devices which will provide needed treatment and support for low income people on the Autism spectrum. Access to ABA can dramatically improve outcomes and is a smarter way to invest Mass Health dollars. Schools that already provide ABA to Mass Health eligible children would be able to bill for federal reimbursement. I am excited for tomorrows vote! The history of the bill (from the ARC of MA): Back in April, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a comprehensive Autism bill - House 4047, filed by House Ways and Means. The bill was a combination of many of the pieces of legislation filed by Representative Garrett Bradley and Senator Jennifer Flanagan in January of 2013 as a result of the work by the Governors Autism Commission. The legislation would reestablish the Autism Commission as a permanent and autonomous entity, necessary since the previous commission sun-setted upon release of the report. It provides for an executive director to support autism advocacy, training and reporting.There are two specific areas directed to study - the long-term needs for housing and employment - in addition to the areas of study and recommendations previously covered by the commission. DDS will now be directed to include in its eligibility guidelines the federal definition of developmental disability for people on the autism spectrum and those with Prader Willi. This change will assist many whose functional needs are not reflected by their IQ score and who are now denied access to DDS. Public school special education teachers will have the option to attain an Autism Endorsement certification - a concentration in autism coursework and training to be leaders within their school communities. A tax-free savings account will be established - patterned after the federal ABLE ACT legislation to allow all disabled families to save in a 529-style plan for expenses including education, housing, and any other needed supports and services. The Senate is scheduled to vote on July 8th on the Senate version of the bill which extends insurance coverage for medically necessary treatments to Mass Health recipients for ABA behavior therapy and both dedicated and non-dedicated augmentative communication devices. We anticipate broad support in the Senate and hope for a quick resolution between the House and Senate to incorporate all of the additions made to the bill. Members of the Arc, AFAM and AANE - have been working on passage of the bill since the release of the Autism Commission recommendations in March of 2013.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 23:59:44 +0000