Update on Autism Spectrum Disorder Bills in the Florida Legislature (April 29, 2008 11:00 AM)

Update (April 29, 2008 11:00 AM)

The articles below reflect the general perception that, because the House and Senate are now each pushing very different bills, the end result is likely to be no bill at all.  The Senate bill has not budget impact, while the price tag for the House bill is estimated to be over $100 million.  In a year of severe budget cuts, it appears unlikely at this point in the session that a bill that impacts the budget will pass in the House or Senate, regardless of the good intentions behind the bill and strong support for the perceived benefits.  

Autism Speaks believes that it is important that as many citizens as possible send a strong message of support to members of the Senate and House in favor of the Senate version of the bill.  Through its Autism Votes initiative, Autism Speaks is urging Florida residents to Take Action in Florida: Call and Email House Speaker Marco Rubio and Urge Him to Bring up SB 2654 for an Immediate Vote in the House Without Amendment!!    

Articles:

Tallahassee Democrat: Autism bill may need trimming to pass:

House members are determined to have that bill preserved, even with its estimated price tag of upwards of $100 million and no money in the budget, said Sen. Steve Geller, D-Cooper City, and the sponsor of the Senate bill. 

"I'm no longer hopeful for any bill passing," Geller said. "They want everything included. They're loving it to death," meaning it's loaded with so many good-sounding things that it becomes impractical, or too expensive, to gain approval.

"I'd love to do something for all disabled children, but the costs make it prohibitive," Geller said.

Palm Beach Post:

·         Articles:

o     Politics of autism:

State House leaders acknowledged Monday that the state doesn’t have the money to have Medicaid and Healthy Kids cover all Florida children with autism. But they still oppose the Senate plan that would immediately require private health insurers to cover autism treatment.

Instead, the House wants to “put a mechanism in place” to have autistic kids get coverage through Healthy Kids whenever the money becomes available.

o     Insurers must cover autism, says Crist

·         Editorial: Require autism coverage

The goal of House Bill 1291 and Senate Bill 2654 is the same: to provide health insurance coverage for children with autism. But neither bill would fully accomplish what is in the best interest of the estimated 10,000 autistic children in Florida and what is in the state's financial interest. A compromise that accomplishes both, however, still can happen during the last week of this year's legislative session.

The News-Press: Crist favors Florida Senate version of autism insurance bill –

Crist said he favors the Senate's approach, in a bill by Sen. Steve Geller, D-Cooper City. The Senate bill mandates that large insurance companies, which would cover about 55 percent of all people insured in Florida — provide coverage for autism diagnoses and treatment. Insurance companies have said they can do that for rate increases of no more than a half-percent on all policyholders.

Geller himself has praised the House plan for its efforts, but said the price tag could make it impractical. It also sets up a scenario of having poor children competing with disabled children for a limited number of coverage slots in Healthy Kids.

Herald Tribune: Crist wants to pass gas tax, autism mandate

news-press.com: Crist favors Florida Senate version of autism insurance bill

sun-sentinel.com (The Associated Press): Bills would increase insurance aid for autism therapy