Kemp and Waitlist for Disability Services

The Politics of Autism includes an extensive discussion of insurance and Medicaid services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) are particularly important. 

Autism Speaks:

Autism Speaks is urging action after Governor Brian Kemp directed the state agency to implement only a fraction of the waiver expansion approved by the legislature, limiting progress on Georgia’s growing waitlist for disability services.

More than 8,000 Georgians with autism or other intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) are waiting for home- and community-based services (HCBS), which help people live at home, access therapies, build skills, and participate fully in their communities. This year, following strong advocacy from families and individuals across the state, the legislature approved a budget allowing 900 individuals to move off the wait list for services. However, Governor Kemp is directing the state agency to use funds for just 100.

“For individuals with autism, access to home- and community-based services is a lifeline,” said David Sitcovsky, Vice President of Advocacy for Autism Speaks. “The legislature put forward a plan to begin addressing the waitlist for these services, but the Governor’s decision to scale back support will have lasting consequences for families across Georgia.”

Medicaid waiver programs such as Georgia’s NOW/COMP waivers are the primary pathway for individuals with autism to access essential services, including behavioral therapies, daily living supports, employment services, and respite care for families. These community-based services can also help prevent more costly outcomes, including crisis response, institutional care, emergency treatment, and caregiver burnout.

Autism Speaks is grateful to Senator Blake Tillery, Senator Ben Watson, Rep. Matt Hatchett, and Rep. Katie Dempsey for championing additional waiver slots in this year’s budget. We are committed to supporting their continued leadership and urge state leaders to build on the legislature’s proposal by identifying opportunities to increase waiver capacity before the next full budget cycle and making this a top priority in the next legislative session.

The state has identified 1,217 individuals who are in critical need of a waiver, and a recent statewide study showed that increases of up to 2,400 slots for three years would be needed to fully address and keep up with demonstrated need. “The Georgia legislature has already recognized both the scale of the need and a path forward,” Sitcovsky added. “It is critical that leaders act with urgency to build on that foundation so fewer families are left waiting year after year for services they urgently need.”

While Governor Kemp’s directive represents a setback, Autism Speaks remains committed to working with state leaders to ensure that Georgia makes meaningful progress toward reducing its waiver wait list. We stand united with other advocates to elevate this issue and invite Georgians affected by autism to join us in this work by

sharing how Medicaid services impact them.

Governor Kemp Signs Rio's Law

In The Politics of Autism, I write:

[M]any police departments have trained officers and other first responders how to spot signs of autism and respond accordingly.  Some organizations have also published identification cards that ASD adults can carry in order to defuse potential conflicts. Virginia provides for an autism designation on driver licenses and other state-issued identification cards. Once again, however, the dilemma of difference comes into play. One autistic Virginian worries: “Great, so if I get into an accident, who’s the cop going to believe, the guy with the autistic label or the guy without it?” Clinical psychologist Michael Oberschneider is concerned about the understanding level of first responders: “I think many people still think of Rain Man or, more recently, the Sandy Hook Shooter, when they think of autism even though very few people on the autistic spectrum are savants or are homicidal and dangerous.”

A May 5 release from Georgia State Senator Brian Strickland:

This week, Sen. Brian Strickland (R–McDonough) celebrated Governor Brian Kemp’s signing of Senate Bill 433, also known as “Rio’s Law.” This landmark legislation aims to improve interactions between law enforcement officers and individuals with autism spectrum disorder or developmental disabilities.

Authored by Sen. Strickland, the bill creates a voluntary specialized license plate designation for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or developmental disabilities and their families, and requires specialized training for Georgia peace officers beginning January 1, 2027.

“Today is a major step forward for families across Georgia who simply want safer, more informed interactions with law enforcement,” said Sen. Strickland. “Rio’s Law is about compassion, understanding and ensuring officers have the tools and training necessary to recognize and appropriately respond to individuals with developmental disabilities. This legislation has been one of my top priorities because these families deserve to feel seen, protected and supported.”

Under SB 433, the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council will work alongside the Department of Community Health, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and nonprofit organizations to develop training on effective communication, behavioral recognition, de-escalation techniques and emergency response protocols involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder or developmental disabilities.

“Rio’s Law represents the kind of thoughtful, people-centered policy that can make a real difference in everyday lives,” Sen. Strickland added. “I’m grateful to my colleagues in both the Senate and House for unanimously supporting this effort, and I thank Governor Kemp for signing it into law.”

Senate Bill 433 takes effect on January 1, 2027. You can find more information about the measure here.

Georgia Legislature Passes Rio's Law

In The Politics of Autism, I write:

[M]any police departments have trained officers and other first responders how to spot signs of autism and respond accordingly.  Some organizations have also published identification cards that ASD adults can carry in order to defuse potential conflicts. Virginia provides for an autism designation on driver licenses and other state-issued identification cards. Once again, however, the dilemma of difference comes into play. One autistic Virginian worries: “Great, so if I get into an accident, who’s the cop going to believe, the guy with the autistic label or the guy without it?” Clinical psychologist Michael Oberschneider is concerned about the understanding level of first responders: “I think many people still think of Rain Man or, more recently, the Sandy Hook Shooter, when they think of autism even though very few people on the autistic spectrum are savants or are homicidal and dangerous.”

Nark Niesse at Capitol Beat:

When police pull over someone with autism, those stops can quickly escalate into confrontations because of miscommunications and stress.

The General Assembly gave final approval Wednesday to a bill designed to alert police so they handle those situations better.

The legislation, which is now heading to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk, would create a specialty license plate for people with autism or developmental disabilities. It also calls for police to receive training in effective communication and using alternatives to handcuffs.
...

The bill is called “Rio’s Law,” named after a boy with autism whose mother, Layla Luna, advocated for a similar law that passed in South Carolina after a difficult traffic stop.

“This is a tool for law enforcement. It allows responders to approach a vehicle with situational awareness before escalation into a sensory overload with an individual with autism,” said Rep. Eddie Lumsden, R-Armuchee.

Under Senate Bill 433, the autism license plate would include a symbol to represent autism. It would be issued only to Georgians whom medical practitioners swear have autism or a developmental disability.

Disparities in Autism Screening

In The Politics of Autism, I discuss the evaluation and diagnosis of young children.  Screening is an important part of the process.

Harrison, A.J., Bowman, K.L., Bub, K.L. et al. Examining Sociodemographic Factors Related to Autism Screening Rates of Children in Early Intervention. J Autism Dev Disord (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-07154-7

Abstract:

Purpose

Routine developmental screening is essential for early identification of autism. Reliable autism screening is even more valuable for individuals from minoritized groups who are often under-detected and receive later diagnoses. Despite this importance, disparities in access to screening and accurate identification persist. Given these disparities, we were interested in examining group differences in autism screening rates at 18 and 24 months of age among children referred to Georgia’s Part C Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) program between 2018 and 2022.
Method

Among a sample of 52,282 infants and toddlers enrolled in BCW, as hypothesized males and children with private insurance had higher screening likelihoods compared to females and children with public insurance.

Results

Unexpectedly, Black and Hispanic children were more likely to be screened than their counterparts. To examine this further, an examination of screening timing revealed that White and male children were more likely to be screened before their referral to BCW compared to peers.

Conclusion

This reveals continued inequities in screening timing but suggests that BCW providers serve an important role in identifying children who may have been missed in other settings.

From the article:

Using a large sample of families participating in state-funded EI, the current study documented continued sociodemographic variability in terms of autism screening rates and the timing of autism screening among young children. The first research question focused on who received screening and the second research question focused on timing differences within children who were screened. In alignment with previous research (Eldeeb et al., 2023; Evans et al., 2018; Kuhn et al., 2021), we found that males and children from families with private insurance were more likely to be screened at either 18- or 24-months compared to females and families that did not report having private insurance. In this dataset, we observed a higher prevalence of autism screening rates among Black children compared to White peers, and Hispanic children compared to non-Hispanic children. More specifically, within this dataset, Black and Hispanic males living in metropolitan settings were more likely to be screened compared to White and non-Hispanic peers. This finding contradicts past research showing inequities in screening rates among racially and ethnically diverse children (Aylward et al., 2021; Carbone et al., 2020; Hirai et al., 2018; Mandell et al., 2009; Wiggins et al., 2020). To further explore the current dataset, among those with screening data we examined if this date was before or after their enrollment into BCW. It was revealed that the unique racial finding indicated an underlying screening disparity in regard to timing. Among the subset of children screened, we observed that White children were significantly more likely to be screened before enrollment in EI (BCW), whereas Asian, Native American and Alaskan, and Black children were more likely to be screened after entry into BCW. These data highlight that delays in screening are still prominent for some minoritized groups but also demonstrate how community agencies can help ensure universal screening across groups.

Early screening of autism primarily falls under the jurisdiction of primary care physicians engaging in early well visits (Coury et al., 2017). Previous research has documented that autism screening is not equitable across practices. For example, pediatricians with high rates of patients with Medicaid have very low rates of autism screening (Arunyanart et al., 2012). The sociodemographic differences observed in this study reveal the continued prominence of screening disparities among minoritized racial and ethnic groups in these traditional screening settings. This also aligns with research from minoritized communities documenting a lack of support from primary care physicians (Horiuchi et al., 2023; Mendoza et al., 2024), which leads to the need to advocate with greater fervor to receive care equitable to peers. Given these persistent sociodemographic screening discrepancies in primary care settings (Wallis, 2021), other community providers are being called upon to help fill the early autism screening gap (Fein et al., 2017; Nowell et al., 2015). In this study, the higher screening rates within BCW for Black and Hispanic children not previously screened highlight the crucial role EI providers can play in improving screening disparities. These study findings align with the documented gap that Spanish-speaking Latine parents often encounter between when they first voice their concerns and the actual age of diagnosis (Wallis et al., 2022).

The finding in this study that autism screening more readily occurred in males compared to females aligns with much of the existing literature (Eldeeb et al., 2023; Evans et al., 2018). These persistent findings reflect the bias to more readily notice autism in children representing the White male autism phenotype (Cruz et al., 2024; D’Mello et al., 2022). Thus, more research must focus on better understanding the female autism phenotype and how it may be overlooked using current screening and diagnostic assessment practices (Napolitano et al., 2022). For example, autistic females may have strengths in their social-communication skills and have a higher tendency to mimic and imitate social skills when compared to autistic males, which might result in hesitancy to deem screening necessary (Head et al., 2014).

Of note, geography or urbanicity also played a meaningful role in our findings. Children from rural areas were more likely than those from metropolitan areas to be screened before BCW and children from micropolitan areas were less likely to be screened before entry into BCW (e.g., screened later than children in metropolitans). The difference between metropolitan and micropolitan areas aligns with previous research showing a higher prevalence of autism rates in urban areas of the United States that likely have a high density of university-medical centers, such as Atlanta, Georgia (Bradshaw et al., 2024). This is likely due to differences in proximity to qualified providers, available resources at the county level, and other sociodemographic factors that are often associated with rural settings (e.g., education level and race; Bradshaw et al., 2024; Vanegas et al., 2023). The finding that children from rural areas were being screened earlier than metropolitan areas was less expected. Research documenting close relationships between rural doctors and patients might serve as one potential explanation for this finding (Desjarlais-deKlerk & Wallace, 2013) but this does not align with the majority of the published data (Antezana et al., 2017).

Families with lower incomes have documented disparities in accessing a myriad of treatments (Smith et al., 2020) and assessment services (Zuckerman et al., 2014). Similar to past research documenting diagnostic disparities tied to public insurance (Kuhn et al., 2021), in this study, children from families reporting having private insurance were more likely than those that did not report it to be screened. General factors preventing equitable care reported by families most commonly include financial stress, a limited number of available providers and resources, a lack of parent and/or provider education, and societal stigma (Aylward et al., 2021; Elder et al., 2016; Zuckerman et al., 2017), many of which have a financial component. Barriers specific to the low-income community documented in the literature include the pronounced shortage of adequate providers among households that rely on Medicaid (Aylward et al., 2021). Parents often serve a crucial role in the identification process (Raspa et al., 2015); however, documented knowledge deficits among low-income populations related specifically to the early childhood delays most related to autism also can contribute to screening delays (Campbell et al., 2019).

 

An Antivaxxer's Syringe Swastika

In The Politics of Autism, I analyze the discredited notion that vaccines cause autism. This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spread.   And among those diseases could be COVID-19.

Antivaxxers are sometimes violent, often abusive, and always wrong.  

Alexandra Larkin at CBS:

Republican candidate Hershel Walker, the former NFL player running for U.S. Senate in Georgia, canceled a fundraiser on Wednesday after the event's host was condemned for using a profile picture of a swastika made of vaccine syringes on social media.

Republican donor Bettina Sofia Viviano-Langlais, a Texas filmmaker, was scheduled to host the fundraiser in Parker, Texas, this weekend, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which first reported the story.

Viviano-Langlais's Twitter account has been taken down at the time of reporting, but a screengrab captured earlier shows the vaccine-swastika logo, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The image has been used by opponents of vaccine mandates who liken the policy to the Nazi oppression and genocide of Jews — a comparison that's been widely condemned.

A Walker spokesperson told the newspaper: "This is clearly an anti-mandatory vaccination graphic. Herschel unequivocally opposes anti-semitism and bigotry of all kinds."

The campaign later confirmed that the fundraiser was canceled, CBS Atlanta affiliate WGCL reported.

 

.@HerschelWalker spokeswoman responds, “This is clearly an anti-mandatory vaccination graphic. Herschel unequivocally opposes anti-semitism and bigotry of all kinds.” #gapol https://t.co/kzGX4roTzs

— Patricia Murphy (@politicalinsidr) October 13, 2021

Antivax Harm

In The Politics of Autism, I look at the discredited notion that vaccines cause autism.  Antivax sentiment has been strong in the Pacific Northwest.

Molly Enking, and Natalie O'Neill at The Daily Beast:

A measles outbreak in the Pacific Northwest ballooned to 35 cases over the weekend, and officials are bracing for even high numbers in two states where parents can choose not to vaccinate their kids for personal reasons.

The affected area—Clark County, Washington, and King County, Oregon— has one of the country’s largest concentration of unvaccinated residents.

“Oregon and Washington are two of 18 states that can choose not to vaccinate because of ‘personal or philosophical’ reasons,’” Peter Hotez, a microbiologist at Baylor University who has studied anti-vaxxer hotspots, told The Daily Beast.

“The parents who chose not to vaccinate tend to be far-left or far-right politically,” he said. “It seems to be the only thing the far left and far right can agree on.”

Shelia Poole at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Georgia health officials on Tuesday confirmed three cases of measles, all within the same metro Atlanta family.

No additional information was released about the family, including the ages of those affected, which county they lived in or where they could have contracted the disease.

The only information released is that none of those who fell ill had been vaccinated.

 Josh Bloom and Alex Berezow at Newsweek:

Anti-vaxxers claim that if vaccines are so effective, the unvaccinated have nothing to worry about. This is a malicious lie. No vaccine is 100% effective, and many can wear off over time. Additionally, some children cannot be vaccinated because they are either too young—the vaccine is not given before age 12 months—or too sick (for instance, immunocompromised) to receive vaccines. These children rely on the rest of us to protect them, a concept known in public health as “herd immunity.”

The purposeful misinformation that pollutes the Internet is categorically wrong; there is no valid reason whatsoever to avoid fully vaccinating your child according to the CDC’s recommended schedule.

Vaccines do not cause autism. This theory, which was spawned by a fraudulent get-rich scheme in the 1990s, has been shown repeatedly to be without any merit. Another fear, that there are “too many” vaccines, is also false. When your child crawls around on the floor licking his hands, he is exposed to far more antigens than those found in all vaccines combined. He is inadvertently “vaccinating” himself all day long.

Meghan Keneally at ABC:

Vaccines are universally backed by respected scientists and federal agencies, but that isn’t enough to convince every parent to vaccinate their children.

The decision to fly in the face of near universal scientific opinion doesn't come as a result of a lack of intellect, however, as experts who have studied vaccines and immunology acknowledge that many parents who don't vaccinate their children are well-educated.

They also appear to be the victims of a widespread misinformation campaign, the experts said.

Daniel Salmon, who is the director of the Institute of Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins University, said that existing research suggests that there are some common attributes that many parents who choose not to vaccinate their children share.

"They tend to be better educated. They tend to be white, and they tend to be higher income. They tend to have larger families and they tend to use complementary and alternative medicine like chiropractors and naturopaths," Salmon said.

Russia has contributed to vaccine disinformation. 

Autistic Person Is a Statewide Candidate in Georgia

In The Politics of Autism, I write:  "Support from the general public will be an important political asset for autistic people. Another will be their sheer numbers, since a larger population of identified autistic adults will mean more autistic voters and activists"

Adam Murphy reports at WGLC-TV in Atlanta:

At State Farmer's Market in Macon, fresh fruits and vegetables aren't the only thing that's home-grown.

Born and raised in central Georgia, Fred Swann is running for statewide Commissioner of Agriculture, but it's not the only challenge he's facing.

"No challenge for someone on the autistic spectrum, no challenge it presents should hold them back from being a contributing member of society, even a politician," said Swann.

He's not only autistic, he's now the Democratic nominee for office.

"The outpouring of affection and support that I have gotten has been overwhelming," said Swann.

https://t.co/UTKlgeeAdj #Autism #gapol #BlueWave #GADems #SwannForGA

— Fred Swann (@SwannforGA) September 20, 2018

From his campaign website:

I was born and raised in Middle Georgia, in both Warner Robins and Macon by a single mother. For most of my childhood, she worked two, sometimes three jobs just to make ends meet to provide for our family, instilling in me the value of hard work. I spent much of my childhood with my grandparents.

After he retired, my grandfather took up farming on a side acre of land. He grew tomatoes, corn, snap peas, and other assorted crops. Today, he would be called a micro farmer. To him, he was just filling his days with productive work.

He would send his family home with bags of produce from his land. He also sold tomatoes on a roadside stand for extra money. I helped him work the land, pull weeds, really anything he needed. In exchange, I learned valuable lessons about hard work and developed a strong appreciation for our farmers. As a person with autism, I never forgot how therapeutic that work was for me.

Swann discusses autism at about 6:50 in this video:

Improving Ava's Law in Georgia

The Politics of Autism includes an extensive discussion of insurance.

A 2015 Georgia mandate is a good example of the "foot in the door" strategy.

From Autism Speaks:

Governor Deal has signed Senate Bill 118, which amends Ava's Law by increasing the limits on the coverage of applied behavior analysis to individuals age twenty and under up to $35,000 per year.

Ava’s Law was originally passed in Georgia in 2015 after almost a decade of advocacy by the autism community. Ava's Law affects private health plans regulated by the State of Georgia and requires screening and diagnosis; speech, occupational and physical therapy; applied behavior analysis up to $30,000 a year for children ages six and under; and psychiatric and psychological care for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The law intended to reverse the discrimination that individuals diagnosed with autism experienced when health insurance plans specifically excluded any treatment specific to autism from their coverage. Families in Georgia struggled for years to access basic, evidence-based care, unable to pay out of pocket. Without the appropriate funding stream, the number of providers remained extremely low and long waiting lists developed across the state.

Although it was a huge step in the right direction, the initial passage of Ava’s Law was not without compromise. Although evidence indicates that therapy is effective across the lifespan of individuals with autism, the legislature amended the original bill to cap coverage of behavioral therapy at $30,000 annually and only apply the requirement to children ages six and under.

Advocates were grateful for the progress, but also determined to continue to work towards coverage for individuals with autism of all ages. Another critical step forward occurred in the 2018 legislative session when Senator Renee Unterman introduced Senate Bill 118. The bill simply increased the previous dollar cap on behavioral therapy to $35,000 annually and also increased the age cap on behavioral therapy from six up to the age of twenty.

House Insurance Committee Chairman Richard Smith, a longtime opponent of the bill, became its champion in the 2018 legislative session upon review of claims data reported from Georgia’s own State Employee Health Plan. On May 8, 2018, Governor Deal signed SB 118 which will go into effect on January 1, 2019.

Autism Legislation in Georgia: Score One for Evidence

The Politics of Autism includes an extensive discussion of insurance.

As Martha Derthick and Paul J. Quirk argued years ago in The Politics of Deregulation, strong evidence and arguments can actually change lawmaker's minds.

In Atlanta, Doug Richards reports at WXIA-TV:

The battle to expand insurance coverage for children with autism has been years in the making at Georgia's Capitol. It won a key victory three years ago – and another in Monday House insurance committee meeting – where chairman Rep. Richard Smith (R-Columbus) has spent years blocking autism legislation.

Smith had worried that adding mandated autism coverage would increase insurance costs. But Smith says he’s studied it further – and is now a believer in the autism bill. Currently, Georgia law requires some insurers to cover autism costs through age 6. This year’s Senate bill expanded it to age 12. Smith expanded it again to age 20.

Smith said his research showed that expanding coverage would cost policyholders less than 50 cents per month. "Fifty cents isn’t going to break anybody," Smith told 11Alive News after the vote.

"Today was a miraculous day," said Judith Ursitti of Autism Speaks, who added Chairman Smith’s conversion was quite unexpected.

Legislation to Raise the Georgia Insurance Cap

The Politics of Autism includes an extensive discussion of insurance.

In Savannah, Cristina Tuso reports at WTOC-TV:

Georgia lawmakers are considering a bill that would expand insurance coverage for people by raising the required coverage age to 21.

Here’s the challenge families affected by Autism face, it is recommended that a person with Autism get 30 hours of therapy a week, and that will end up costing at least $30,000 a year to get a child the attention they need. This new piece of legislation would help cover those costs.

Experts at the Matthew Reardon Center in Savannah say the earlier a person can start therapy and the longer they can afford to do it, the better off and more independent they will be as adults.

Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy, ABA, asses a child, coming up with an individual education plan and then helping a child self-manage autistic behaviors.

"We get calls from parents of three-year old's who don't have the financials means to pay for therapy," said Patti Victor, Matthew Reardon Center President.

The current law only requires that insurance providers cover autism treatment services until the age of six. That coverage cap is the lowest in the country, which means that families that send their children to the Matthew Reardon Center in Savannah for specialized therapy, can't afford the help that their child needs.

WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports

Insurance Developments in Georgia and North Dakota

The Politics of Autism includes an extensive discussion of insurance.

A week ago, Kristina Torres reported at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Legislation to raise the mandatory age cap for autism insurance coverage from 6 to 21 years of age has won the backing of Senate leadership, led by Senate Health and Human Services Chairwoman Renee Unterman, R-Buford.

Senate Bill 118 will be introduced next week but still faces an uphill battle at the Capitol, where insurance and business advocates have long opposed expanding mandates they say can be costly. Unterman, however, said she is ready to battle, noting that Gov. Nathan Deal over the past few years has also backed broader coverage.

Giovanna Drpic reports at WFXG-TV:

Research for Autism Speaks shows that the average increase in premiums nationwide is 32 cents per member, per month. The Georgia Association of Health Plans says, "Our hearts go out to those impacted by autism. The debate will be about how much this new average will increase premiums, but there is no debate that it will increase premiums for Georgia's small businesses."

"If you are getting treatment, that child will be in special ed from 3-21, and then they will go on to disability, SSI and all sorts of benefits," [autism mom Melissa] Solares said.

In North Dakota, Joe Skurzewski reports at KFYR-TV:

Supporters of a house bill aimed at expanding insurance coverage for therapy for children with autism struck a minor victory Tuesday.

House Bill 1434 went through the House Human Services Committee with a ‘yes’ pass, with amendments.

The bill would mandate insurance coverage for a type of therapy known as ‘Applied Behavior Analysis,’ that helps children with autism learn how to perform daily functions.

Supporters of the bill are meeting Wednesday to discuss the amendments and the next step for the bill.

North Dakota is one of only five states in the country that does not carry the mandated insurance.

Expanding the Georgia Mandate

The Politics of Autism includes an extensive discussion of insurance.

At The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Kristina Torres reports:

Autism advocates say they will push for expansion next year on Georgia’s recent mandate to guarantee insurance coverage of children 6 and under, including a call to raise or remove the age cap.

Anna Bullard, whose now-12-year-old daughter, Ava, inspired what is informally known as Ava’s Law, said this week that she and other supporters have been encouraged by lower-than-expected costs for coverage offered through the state health benefits plan. And since the state plan has a slightly higher cap and includes kids through age 10, they believe they can make a similar argument for coverage from private insurers.

They are also pushing state officials to include coverage under Medicaid.

“The benefit for a child to continue to receive benefits far outweighs the pennies that it costs a company to keep moving forward,” said Bullard. “We can’t just settle and say getting services through age 6 is enough.”

Marijuana and Autism

In The Politics of Autism, I write:

The conventional wisdom is that any kind of treatment is likely to be less effective as the child gets older, so parents of autistic children usually believe that they are working against the clock. They will not be satisfied with the ambiguities surrounding ABA, nor will they want to wait for some future research finding that might slightly increase its effectiveness. They want results now. Because there are no scientifically-validated drugs for the core symptoms of autism, they look outside the boundaries of mainstream medicine and FDA approval. Studies have found that anywhere from 28 to 54 percent of autistic children receive “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM), and these numbers probably understate CAM usage.

Marijuana is one controversial example of CAM.

At the Riverside Press-Enterprise, Tom Sheridan reports on the Cannabis for Autism conference that took place last Saturday in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

The keynote presentation at the conference was delivered via Skype by Dr. Lester Grinspoon, associate professor emeritus of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Grinspoon is the author of several cannabis-related books including “Marihuana Reconsidered,” published in 1971.

Grinspoon conceded that he thought marijuana, or cannabis, was “dangerous” until he started to research it. He, too, had a personal connection to the drug’s apparent therapeutic qualities. In the 1960s, when his son was undergoing chemotherapy treatments, he witnessed first-hand evidence that cannabis helped his son deal with the disabling nausea caused by the chemo.

“My conclusion was it was a remarkably non-toxic medicine,” Grinspoon said.

The conference comes as many in the United States are examining their views on cannabis. Three states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, and nearly half the states plus Washington, D.C., allow medical marijuana.

But the U.S. government continues to list marijuana as a Schedule I drug, a classification reserved for drugs that have no medical use and high potential for abuse. Heroin and LSD are other Schedule I drugs.

Another speaker at the conference, Thalia Michelle, executive director of Mothers Advocating Medical Marijuana for Autism (MAMMA), is the parent of an autistic child.

In her presentation, Michelle made the case that states should list autism as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana.

WSB-TV in Atlanta reports:

The mother of an autistic child went before Georgia lawmakers Monday, admitting she broke the law to get relief for her daughter.

Channel 2’s Lori Geary sat in on the first hearing of Georgia’s new medical marijuana bill that would allow the growing of medical marijuana in Georgia and expand the number of conditions patients need to qualify, including Alzheimer’s disease and autism.

Jennifer Conforti testified that she gets marijuana on the black market and turns it into cannabis oil for her 5-year-old daughter.

...
State Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, is considered the godfather of the medical marijuana movement in Georgia.

“It’s time to quit making criminals out of parents and citizens who only want to provide medicine for their sick children and for themselves," Peake told Geary.

At CNHI News Service, John Finnerty reports:

Debate over medical marijuana in Pennsylvania has been a slog, say advocates who are still working to overcome the skepticism of lawmakers who don't want to be seen as soft on drugs.

Pennsylvania is one of a dozen states with no form of legalized medical marijuana. Supporters say that could soon change, as surveys of lawmakers indicate that it could pass.

They just need Republicans in the House to bring it up for a vote.

“That’s my biggest beef,” said Lolly Bentch, who lives near Harrisburg and leads Campaign for Compassion, a group of moms who've been lobbying to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania.

Hunter Clauss and Kristen Thometz report at WTTW in Chicago:

Gov. Bruce Rauner has a week to decide whether to expand the state's medical marijuana pilot program, which some observers worry could be in danger of flaming out. So far the program only covers a limited number of serious illnesses and has 4,000 registered patients.

The state's Medical Cannabis Advisory Board wants the governor to add eight new medical conditions to the program. They include chronic pain caused by trauma, autism and PTSD. But it's not clear whether Rauner will sign off on the move after he punted on adding more conditions to the program last year.

"A Foot in the Door"

Lauren Mc Donald of the Morris News Service reports that Ava's Law has gone into effect.

Due to a new state law that took effect July 1, private insurance companies must provide coverage for the best therapeutic treatment for children with autism ages 6 and under.

Ava’s Law, passed unanimously this year by the Georgia General Assembly, requires private insurance companies to cover Applied Behavior Analysis therapy for the first time in the state’s history. Georgia became the 41st state to require coverage.
...
Over the past eight years, the Georgia General Assembly has continually increased the amount of state funds appropriated for nonprofit organizations that provide diagnosis, care and treatment. The state provides $4.2 million to nonprofit organizations, such as the Matthew Reardon School, a year-round school for autistic children.

It costs $40,000 per year for the school to educate each student, said Patti Victor, the school’s president and CEO. State and private funding allows the tuition to remain low enough for families to afford.
...
And even though Ava’s Law has been passed, she said a lot of families still do not have private insurance and will not be covered because the law only applies to insurance companies selling policies. It doesn’t include large employers who insure themselves. However, the state’s insurance for government workers and teachers began including the coverage last year, before the law required it.

Victor said the law provides a “foot in the door” for future legislation.

“What’s happens when the child turns 7?” she said. “From a long-term standpoint, an important part of Ava’s Law is that it has put autism on the minds of people who have the ability to pass laws and to offer assistance.”

Ava's Law: Final Passage

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:

Insurance companies would have to provide coverage to children with autism under legislation on its way to Gov. Nathan Deal’s desk.

The House voted 161-0 on Thursday to give House Bill 429 final approval, ending a years-long struggle by parents and advocacy groups to gain a level of coverage offered in many other states.

The vote in the House came after a negotiated end to a stalemate last week. House leaders had fought the bill for years, arguing it would hurt small businesses that provide insurance coverage for employees.

The compromise version passed the Senate unanimously last week.

The final bill requires insurance companies to provide up to $30,000 a year of coverage for children age 6 and under.

Insurance Action in Georgia and Virginia

Dave Williams reports at The Atlanta Business Chronicle:

The Georgia Senate approved compromise legislation Tuesday requiring insurance companies to cover young children with autism.

Senators passed an autism bill back in January, but it ground to a halt in the House of Representatives over cost concerns.

After state Rep. Richard Smith, R-Columbus, chairman of the House Insurance Committee announced last week he would not allow a vote on the Senate bill, he met with his Senate counterpart to work out an agreement.

Under the compromise, which senators passed unanimously, the autism coverage mandate would be limited to children six years of age or younger. Payouts would be capped at $30,000 a year.

The bill also would exempt companies with 10 employees or fewer, while insurance companies wouldn’t have to offer autism coverage if they can demonstrate it would drive up their premiums by more than 1 percent.

The legislation now goes back to the House, which is expected to pass it in keeping with the agreement.

Joe Dashiell reports at WDBJ:

Governor Terry McAuliffe has signed legislation that should offer more help to Virginia families dealing with autism.

House Bill 1940 extends the requirement that health insurance providers cover treatments for children with autism. Under the new law, the age limit will rise from six to ten years old, and families say that change will make a big difference.

Angie McKissick is with the Piedmont Autism Action Group.

"It could mean the difference of a child talking and being able to function in society," McKissick told WDBJ7, "gaining more skills that they need to be able to live a productivelife, so it's huge. "

Ava's Law Redux

Douglas Richards reports at WXIA on a reversal by the state lawmaker who had been blocking Ava's Law:

State Rep. Richard Smith (R-Columbus) tells 11Alive News that he has agreed to attach the language of Ava's Law to another bill that has already passed the House. The compromise was announced Thursday at the Georgia Capitol.

Ava's Law, which is named after a 9-year-old Ava Bullard of Toombs County, would require insurance coverage for children with autism in Georgia. The bill has been bottled up in the House for seven years in part because of Smith's opposition.

"I'm excited we have a solution," said Smith, who expressed frustration on the House floor Wednesday over the "flack" he'd been getting for his position against Ava's Law.

Smith, chairman of the House insurance committee, had been the biggest obstacle to the passage of the autism bill. Ava's Law, named for 10 year old Ava Bullard, would require insurance companies to cover treatment for children with autism. Smith viewed it as a burden on small businesses. Ava's mother lobbied hard for the bill for seven years—and learned early Thursday afternoon that Smith had agreed to a compromise.

"I can't take it. It's unreal. It's unreal. It's been seven years," Bullard said grinning in a capitol hallway, shortly before hugging Smith.

"I'm not that ogre everybody thinks I am. I have compassion for these people," Smith said at the announcement.

Smith agreed the compromise after the state senate stopped considering bills backed by Smith and members of his insurance committee – a strongarm tactic that Smith acknowledges happens every year in the legislature. Ava Bullard, who spent the day at school in south Georgia, found out about the compromise in a Facetime phone call with her mother in an office in the capitol.

Stalling in Georgia

Andy Miller of Georgia Health News reports that Ava's Law is stalling in the state's House Insurance Committee.  A hearing resulted in no vote:

Anna Bullard, of Lyons, told the panel how ABA therapy improved life for her daughter, Ava. At age 2, the girl did not talk.

The Bullards’ insurance policy did not cover ABA, but the family paid for her to get it. Now, Ava “is at the top of her class’’ in a regular education curriculum, Bullard said.
“Ava is an example of the potential,’’ Bullard said. “Having a child, the most important thing is that they can speak.”

State Sen. Tommie Williams. R-Lyons, who is related to Ava, told the House lawmakers that their role “is to determine what makes good policy.”

As an employer, Williams said, “I’m not just looking for the best price [on health insurance]. I’m looking for the best policy.’’

Their testimony was countered by business and insurance groups.

Kyle Jackson of the National Federation of Independent Business said his small business members are very concerned about the rising costs of health insurance.
If the autism bill passes, he said, “I’m not going to say the sky is going to fall . . . but there is a cost to this.”

Jackson’s testimony was supported by David Raynor, of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. And Graham Thompson of the Georgia Association of Health Plans said “there will be an impact’’ if the bill is approved.

ABA is not considered “an essential health benefit’’ under the Affordable Care Act, he added.

Allan Hayes of America’s Health Insurance Plans testified that “ABA therapy is not a cure’’ for autism. Insurance mandates increase costs for employers, Hayes said.

Aaron Gould Sheinin reports at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

The chairman of the House Insurance Committee said Wednesday that he will not allow a bill to pass this year that would mandate insurance coverage for treatment of autism for a limited number of Georgians.Instead, Rep. Richard Smith, R-Columbus, said he will introduce legislation later this week that would let voters decide whether to levy a new fractional state sales tax to provide treatment for all children with autism-related disorders.

Smith said Senate Bill 1 “is bad policy.” He said the bill would only provide coverage for 15 out of every 100 children with the disorder.

“What are you going to do with the other 85?” he asked. “How are you going to explain that to mom and dad, they’re not going to get treatment? It’s wrong. I will not pass that bill out of insurance.”

Georgia: Pay Now or Pay Later

In Atlanta, WABE reports:

A popular state Senate bill requiring private insurers to cover autism treatment for young children was scrutinized Wednesday by members of a House committee. Representatives don’t want small businesses to pay more for insurance.

Under the bill, insurance companies would have to cover autism treatment coverage for children six years old and younger. Insurance Committee Chairman Richard Smith, R-Columbus, says small businesses can’t afford the extra costs.

“How do I go back home and say by the way, we just voted to raise your insurance premium,” Smith says.

But Sen. Charlie Bethel, R-Dalton, says the costs for taxpayers is much higher without the treatment because studies show early autism intervention is successful. He says it’s more expensive to educate in a special needs classroom versus a regular one.

“If that business is in that precarious of a financial position, I kind wonder whether they’re going to be able to pay their property taxes when all these children show up in elementary school and cost the district an extra $10,000, $12,000, $14,000 per year,” Bethel says.

Mandate Movement in Mississippi and Georgia

In Jackson, Emily Le Coz reports at The Clarion-Ledger:

An autism insurance reform bill unanimously passed the full House floor Thursday and now heads to the Senate.

House Bill 885 would require health insurance policies to cover autism treatment, and specifically Applied Behavior Analysis, for Mississippi children ages 2-8.

"Every once in a while you get up here and you get a fast pitch, one that you ought to hit outta the park," said state Rep. Charles Busby, R-Pascagoula, referring to the bill.

It now heads to the Senate, which has a similar bill awaiting vote on its full floor.

Janel Davis and Kristina Torres report at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

With a unanimous decision, the Georgia Senate approved a bill on Thursday that would require insurance companies to provide autism treatment coverage for young children.

The 54-0 vote echoed a unanimous vote on similar legislation approved by the Senate during last year’s session.

Senate Bill 1 will likely reignite one of the most controversial issues from last year’s legislative session, when the chamber used a similar proposal as a wedge that eventually sank both it and a popular medical marijuana bill. With the state Legislature starting fresh in the first of a two-year cycle, supporters believe they have enough time to find common ground with opponents.