1. Ask the Company/Human Resources Dept. (HR) for whom you work (where you receive your health benefits/insurance) if the plan your family has is a “Self Insured Plan.” If they tell you “Yes” – you are not eligible for benefits under Steven’s Law. If they tell you “No” go to step # 2.
2. If you do not know or are unsure, ask the HR Department if the company has 50 or more employees. If they tell you “No” than you are not eligible for benefits under Steven’s Law. If they tell you “Yes” go to step #3.
3. Ask the HR Department where/in which state your Insurance Plan is “underwritten.” If your plan has been underwritten in any state other than Arizona you may not be eligible for Steven’s Law.
4. Call your insurance company and ask for “Member Benefits.” Ask if they (Customer Service) are familiar with Arizona’s Steven’s Law/Autism Coverage.If they tell you “No” ask to speak to a Supervisor and ask the Supervisor the same questions.
5. If they tell you “Yes” ask them if your family (your child) is eligible for the benefits under your plan.
6. If they tell you “No” ask them why/what the reason is, and then tell them you want the reason you do not have coverage sent to you in writing.
7. If they tell you “Yes” request a list of “Network or Contracted Providers” or “Preferred Providers” for your area. This will give you all of the agencies and/or individuals who are contracted with your insurance company to provide services outlined by Steven’s Law.
8. Because some Companies have elected to offer this coverage when they are not required to, call your insurance company and ask even if you think you are NOT eligible. If they tell you that you ARE eligible, request it in writing before you make any appointments etc.

The Arizona Legislature has passed House Bill 2001 and is now waiting to be signed by Governor Brewer. The legislation establishes a tax credit for corporate contributions or insurance premiums to a school tuition organization that provides scholarships for children in the foster care system or students with disabilities. It addresses current and eligible students in the voucher program signed by Gov. Napolitano in 2006 but deemed unconstitutional in March 2009 by the Arizona Supreme Court. To view a copy of the passed bill, click here.

Please click here to view a notice from the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities regardiing a cut in provider rates.

Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, today applauded Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), and Hank Johnson (D-GA) for their introduction of a House companion bill to the Senate’s Autism Treatment Acceleration Act (ATAA), which was introduced last month by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Robert Casey (D-PA), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ). Like the Senate version, the House version of the ATAA (H.R. 2413) is comprehensive federal legislation that addresses several critical challenges facing the autism community, including increased funding for scientific research, treatment and services. The ATAA incorporates provisions from the Expanding the Promise of Individuals with Autism Act (EPIAA), originally proposed by Representatives Doyle, Smith, Engel, and former-Representative Chip Pickering.

As in the Senate’s ATAA bill, a key section of the House bill requires all insurance companies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASDs), including coverage of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy – a medically-necessary, evidence-based autism treatment. While the number of states that have enacted comprehensive autism insurance reform legislation has grown to ten, most state insurers are still allowed to specifically exclude coverage for these critical services, which can cost upward of $50,000 a year – well beyond the means of most families.

The House version of the bill also addresses the unique needs of adults with ASDs, creating a demonstration project with one-year planning grants and multi-year implementation grants for the provision of service for adults with autism. In addition, it creates the Network for Autism Spectrum Disorders Research and Services aimed at accelerating the dissemination and utilization of critical, new information, moving it from “bench to bedside” as quickly as possible.

Now Help US Get ATAA Passed!:
1. CONTACT YOUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE! Urge him/her to become a cosponsor of the ATAA bill, H.R. 2413.

> Call your Representative’s office and let him/her know that you support the ATAA bill, H.R. 2413, and you want your Representative to become a cosponsor today. Click here to find the name and phone number for your federal Representative!

> Send an email to your Representative! Autism Votes has written part of the email message for you. All you need to do is fill in the empty box with your story about your family’s experience with autism and how the ATAA bill will help. Click here to send an email to your Representative!

2. STAY INFORMED ON THE ATAA BILL! Sign up to receive Autism Votes email alerts and stay informed on the progress of the ATAA bill.

3. FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY! Get your friends and family involved in getting the ATAA bill passed.

For a complete summary description of both the House and Senate ATAA bills, visit our website at www.AutismVotes.org/ATAA.

Each year DES/AzEIP applies to the federal government for federal funds and makes certain assurances that it will follow the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This year DES/AzEIP has included a proposal to create family cost participation.

Under the Family Cost Participation (FCP) DES/AzEIP proposes to begin charging families that make over 200% of the federal poverty level ($44,400 for a family of 4), 15% of th e costs of their child’s services. According to the proposal the charges will increase in increments of 5% until they reach 100% of the costs of the child and family’s early intervention services. According to the IDEA states must make families aware of all of the costs they may incur when using a states early intervention system. Arizona already charges a family’s private insurance for their AzEIP services, though this is not mentioned in the FCP. The recent budget cuts have meant that families who use Children’s Rehabilitative Services for their early intervention services are being asked to pay out-of-pocket for any costs left after their private insurance pays—this is not in the FCP. The legislature has a proposal to use Means Testing—in other words to charge families receiving DDD services (ALTCS or state-only)—this is not mentioned in the FCP.

Inequitable
Families who receive early intervention services through the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (A SDB) will not be asked to pay the FCP.

Families who live in hard to serve areas will pay more than families in metro Phoenix or Tucson. It is hard to find providers in areas like Yuma, Apache County, Navajo County and the like—DES/AzEIP pays them more (up to 50% more) than providers in Tucson and Phoenix. Families in these areas would then be charged more based on the increased amounts paid to their providers to come to their area. Other providers negotiate their rates, they are higher than the published rates, so those families will be asked to pay more.

Needy will pay more
The FCP is tied to the state’s cost of providing services, thus those families with children with multiple disabilities, high service needs, or multiple children with disabilities will pay more. A recent study, referred to the “chilling hardships” experienced by families who made up to four times the poverty level. The families studied in 2002, reported that they o ften have to skip meals, delay mortgage or rent payments. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/118595.php

The Early intervention system is an essential partner as families learn how to help their child with a disability. It is important to share how this proposal might affect your family, how you might make different decisions about your child’s IFSP if you would incur such costs and what benefits your family has received from the early intervention.

The first public hearing will be held May 8, 2008 at AZ Department of Transportation 1130 North 22nd Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009 from 2:30 to 4:30pm