| The insurance industry is pushing back very hard on our bill this year (surprise, surprise). Thanks to their pressure, Senate Health Care committee chair Sen. Monnes Anderson has so far refused to allow an actual vote on the bill: we are confident that we have the votes to pass the bill in this committee, but in the legislature, committee chairs have the power to decide which bills actually get voted on.
There is still time to persuade the committee, and Sen. Monnes Anderson, to allow a vote on this bill, and to move it forward through the legislative process. We know from experience that grassroots support can be very effective in motivating legislators to do the “right thing” – so:
- Please come to the Senate Health Care committee hearing on Friday, February 10th at 3:00 PM to show your support for SB1568, the Autism Health Insurance Reform bill
- Please e-mail Sen. Monnes Anderson, and ask her to schedule a “work session” on SB1568
Senate Health Care Committee Hearing – Friday, February 10th at 3:00 PM:
The Senate Health Care committee hearing for SB1568, the Autism Health Insurance Reform bill, has been scheduled for this coming Friday.
Date: Friday, February 10th
Time: 3:00 PM
Location:
- Hearing Room B
- Oregon State Capitol
- 900 Court St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301
The hearing should be interesting – Sen. Monnes Anderson has directed the Insurance Industry to attend, and to explain their objections to the bill in person and on the record. We need to show our strength to persuade her to allow an actual vote on the bill – so far, she has declined, because of the Insurance Industry’s unwillingness to support it.
We encourage you to attend the hearing in person if you can – it will be a great way to show your support, and to see the process in action. You may submit written testimony (a simple, 1-page letter) – but there probably won’t be enough time to let everyone speak. We’re at the end of the agenda – so please come even if you can’t be sure you’ll make it on time.
Pre-Meeting – Friday, February 10th, at 2:30 PM, Capitol Room 243:
We’ve reserved a conference room at the capitol to meet in advance of the hearing. If you can come a little early, please visit us in Room 243 to talk about the hearing, and what we can do to help.
Date: Friday, February 10th
Time: 2:30 PM
Location: Room 243, Oregon State Capitol
Room 243 is adjacent to the entrance to the Senate chamber, on the left side, overlooking the capitol steps.
Please contact me if you are interested in coming to the hearing! I can be reached at paul@AutismInsuranceOR.org.
Please Ask the Chair Monnes Anderson to allow a vote on SB1568:
Please write to her again even if you’ve already written to the committee to express your support for this bill. Here’s a short, simple e-mail message that you can use to get started. Revise the third paragraph to describe how this affects you, your family, or your patients, and update the greeting and address.
To:
sen.lauriemonnesanderson@state.or.us
Subject:
Please Schedule a Work Session on SB1568, Autism Health Insurance Reform
Body:
Dear Sen. Monnes Anderson,
Please schedule a Work Session on SB1568, the Autism Health Insurance Reform bill.
Three years of talks with the insurance industry are enough – it’s time to move forward, and start requiring insurance companies to pay for medically necessary, evidence-based treatment for patients with autism.
Every year we wait, 600 more children are diagnosed with autism in Oregon. With effective, timely treatment, many of these children will be able to make substantial gains and need fewer services. Providing these individuals with the right care at the right time will save the state money.
[*** If you wish, you can insert a brief personal story here. Example: I have a 20-year-old son with this diagnosis. His treatment was not covered by our health insurance, and consequently he did not receive what might have helped him to overcome some of the most debilitating aspects of autism. Now he needs costly support from state services, and probably will for life. ***]
Thank you,
Your Name
123 SW Main
Hometown, OR 97201
—–
If you have questions about the bill or about how to communicate with your legislators, please send me an e-mail. Please also let me know what the legislators have to say – send me a note or forward their responses to me at: paul@AutismInsuranceOR.org
You can find more information about the bill at: http://autisminsuranceor.org/2012-legislation/
Thanks for your help!
Paul Terdal |
