OK Gazette
March 31, 2010
SoonerPoll.com, run by Shapard Research, surveyed 1,000 likely registered voters statewide between Feb. 25 and March 8. The poll has a 3.1 percent margin of error. For those contemplating a run at political office this year, here are a couple of campaign tips based on the poll: Better do thorough research on autism, and, for God’s sakes, limit the booze.
A caring state
Oklahoma’s public health is a constant topic, with most indicators showing the state as one of the least healthy in the country. Partisan sides are drawing battle lines with a different medical issue.
The state does not require insurance companies to provide medical coverage for autistic children, a growing segment of the population. Debate in the state Legislature has been heated, with attempts to mandate such coverage. The Republican-controlled House and Senate have successfully thwarted all attempts at autism legislation. In fact, a bill has never even made it through either chamber for a vote.
But according to the poll, those opposed to such measures might want to keep their opinion to themselves. SoonerPoll found nearly 80 percent favor requiring health insurance to cover diagnosis and treatment of children with autism.
Gaddie, vice president of Shapard Research, said that number shows the autism side winning the public opinion battle.
“First of all, you have public acceptance that it is a medical condition that is deserving of insurance coverage, and that there is a moral obligation for insurance companies to engage in that type of coverage,” said Gaddie, an Oklahoma Gazette commentary writer.
This is some of the best news autism insurance advocate Wayne Rohde has received since taking on the fight. The poll is encouraging, but even he is surprised how much support is out there.
“I was kind of believing 60 percent would be a good number to have,” Rohde said. “When we hit higher numbers, it really hit home that it transcends across all political ideologies, economic status and religious views.”
Rohde has been pushing Nick’s Law on lawmakers, named after his autistic son, Nicholas.
Almost 54 percent of respondents said they would be more likely to vote against a candidate who did not support mandated autism insurance coverage. And 66 percent support a state ballot initiative to make a law requiring coverage.}
This is more ammunition for Rohde. He said his first two options are for insurance companies to start providing coverage on their own, or letting the Legislature adopt a law or put the issue on the November ballot.
But he is prepared to take it to the people.
“If the Legislature keeps turning their backs on the special-needs children, then we have to proceed another action,” Rohde said. “That is the signature petition initiative which I believed would be supported by a majority of Oklahomans. We are a very caring state for our neighbors.”
Click here to read the entire article and view charts.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Autism insurance bill, Nick's Law
Ed Doney Reporting , KFOR
March 9, 2010
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A bill that would require insurance companies to cover treatment for children with autism has cleared the House of Representatives in Missouri. However, the fight continues over similar legislation in Oklahoma, called "Nick's Law." The father of 12-year-old Nick Rohde, for whom the proposed law was named, wants Oklahoma to join surrounding states on the issue.
Wayne Rohde spends thousands of dollars every month for Nick's autism behavioral therapy, which is not covered by insurance and yet Nick is still unable to verbally communicate with his dad.
Wayne has unsuccessfully tried to get lawmakers to pass Nick's Law and is amazed at how Oklahoma is surrounded by states that do cover the disease like Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana.
As Missouri inches closer to providing autism coverage, Wayne says that 65 percent of Oklahomans are on his side.
"So we know we're on the right track. This is the right thing to do," he says. "Unfortunately, our State Capitol is not listening to the people of Oklahoma."
Representative Mike Brown (D, District 4) has authored House Joint Resolution 1068, which would "refer (the issue) to the people for their approval" on the November ballot.
He says it's currently being held up in a rules committee.
Brown was disappointed Nick's Law was killed last year in the Economic Development and Financial Services Committee, which means it won't be heard again until 2011.
"You can't just turn your head, stick your head in the sand and say it's going to go away," Brown says.
He points to 15 other states that have already passed autism coverage legislation that, he says, has not significantly raised insurance premiums.
"Will there be slight (cost) increases? My gosh, there's astronomical increases every year in health care, with no reasons behind it," Brown says.
Representative Dan Sullivan (R, District 71) is Chairman of the committee that killed Nick's Law, last year.
"We see a movement in the market without government intervention that's taking care of these situations and moving in the right direction," he says.
Sullivan points out that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is now offering autism coverage on their own; he wants other insurance companies to follow their lead, without an expensive government mandate.
If they don't follow suit?
"It would certainly cause us to go back to these other carriers and say, 'why aren't you doing this? Give us a reason why you're not doing this?'" Sullivan says. "We would rather have people do it in their own course of business rather than forcing and mandating them to do that."
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma released a statement Tuesday saying "(We) will provide a clinically reasonable benefit that doesn't unduly create a price impact on small employer groups and affect their ability to provide health care coverage to their employees. This action allows us to provide a benefit for proven therapeutic services while research continues to identify effective treatments or medical solutions for children with autism."
Wayne Rohde is disappointed Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma's autism policy does not cover behavioral therapy, which he says is the most important and most expensive treatment for children.
"We're creating a bigger problem down the road in the next few years," he says, "where the taxpayers will be on the hook to provide long-term care for these kids as they become adults."
Copyright © 2010, KFOR-TV
http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-news-autism-bill-nicks-law-story,0,2313781.story
March 9, 2010
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A bill that would require insurance companies to cover treatment for children with autism has cleared the House of Representatives in Missouri. However, the fight continues over similar legislation in Oklahoma, called "Nick's Law." The father of 12-year-old Nick Rohde, for whom the proposed law was named, wants Oklahoma to join surrounding states on the issue.
Wayne Rohde spends thousands of dollars every month for Nick's autism behavioral therapy, which is not covered by insurance and yet Nick is still unable to verbally communicate with his dad.
Wayne has unsuccessfully tried to get lawmakers to pass Nick's Law and is amazed at how Oklahoma is surrounded by states that do cover the disease like Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana.
As Missouri inches closer to providing autism coverage, Wayne says that 65 percent of Oklahomans are on his side.
"So we know we're on the right track. This is the right thing to do," he says. "Unfortunately, our State Capitol is not listening to the people of Oklahoma."
Representative Mike Brown (D, District 4) has authored House Joint Resolution 1068, which would "refer (the issue) to the people for their approval" on the November ballot.
He says it's currently being held up in a rules committee.
Brown was disappointed Nick's Law was killed last year in the Economic Development and Financial Services Committee, which means it won't be heard again until 2011.
"You can't just turn your head, stick your head in the sand and say it's going to go away," Brown says.
He points to 15 other states that have already passed autism coverage legislation that, he says, has not significantly raised insurance premiums.
"Will there be slight (cost) increases? My gosh, there's astronomical increases every year in health care, with no reasons behind it," Brown says.
Representative Dan Sullivan (R, District 71) is Chairman of the committee that killed Nick's Law, last year.
"We see a movement in the market without government intervention that's taking care of these situations and moving in the right direction," he says.
Sullivan points out that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is now offering autism coverage on their own; he wants other insurance companies to follow their lead, without an expensive government mandate.
If they don't follow suit?
"It would certainly cause us to go back to these other carriers and say, 'why aren't you doing this? Give us a reason why you're not doing this?'" Sullivan says. "We would rather have people do it in their own course of business rather than forcing and mandating them to do that."
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma released a statement Tuesday saying "(We) will provide a clinically reasonable benefit that doesn't unduly create a price impact on small employer groups and affect their ability to provide health care coverage to their employees. This action allows us to provide a benefit for proven therapeutic services while research continues to identify effective treatments or medical solutions for children with autism."
Wayne Rohde is disappointed Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma's autism policy does not cover behavioral therapy, which he says is the most important and most expensive treatment for children.
"We're creating a bigger problem down the road in the next few years," he says, "where the taxpayers will be on the hook to provide long-term care for these kids as they become adults."
Copyright © 2010, KFOR-TV
http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-news-autism-bill-nicks-law-story,0,2313781.story
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