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New task force highlights leaders at odds on how to help autistic kids
Post 6421#1 posted Apr 8, 08
mlopez- Joined on Mar 12, 08
- All posts by this user
House Speaker Marco Rubio is joining other state leaders in championing better treatments for autistic children.
Rubio announced in a press release this afternoon that he has created a 13-member committee to come up with ways to help parents afford care for kids with autism and other developmental diseases.
Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, was appointed vice chair of the committee.
Rubio's move comes two days after he and Gov. Charlie Crist met in the Capitol with former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, whose is co-chair of Crist's recently formed task force on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Marino has a son with autism.
In an interview Thursday Rubio called autism "a middle class tragedy."
"Medicaid covers this, so those who make less money are getting the treatments, and the wealthy of course can always pay for these treatments," Rubio said.
"But the middle class these are folks who are working two jobs; they're selling their homes and moving in with their in-laws. Some are even thinking about getting divorced so they can qualify for Medicaid."
But Rubio is at odds on a crucial point with Crist – and Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller, who is pushing a bill to mandate that insurance companies provide coverage for autistic children.
Crist said this week that he would support a mandate for autism coverage. Rubio, it seems, would not.
"While mandatory insurance coverage has been suggested as one solution," Rubio stated in a press release, "a costly mandate could jeopardize the ability of many to maintain their insurance."
-- Carol Lee
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080404/BLOG29/463429390
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