Leap Tall Buildings?

Printed from the Urban Tulsa Weekly website: http://www.urbantulsa.com
POSTED ON JANUARY 27, 2010:



Look, up at the capitol--is it Superman or Clark Kent?

By Arnold Hamilton

If House Speaker-designate Kris Steele isn't the most anxious guy at the state Capitol these days, he should be.

The Shawnee Republican is the GOP majority's choice to grab hold of the gavel for the 2011 session, succeeding current Speaker Chris Benge, who is being forced from office by term limits.

The problem is, Steele's yearlong ascension to power unfolds just as the House Republican caucus is showing signs of morphing into the political equivalent of a hornet's nest.

The very public dispute between Benge and Rep. David Dank of Oklahoma City over Dank's proposed property tax cap began escalating less than a fortnight before the session opens Feb. 1, threatening to fracture the GOP coalition.

In fact, Dank demanded that Benge "step up" and support the tax plan or "step down and let someone else lead the House." Benge quickly fired back, accusing Dank of "political grandstanding at its worst."

In the middle sits Steele, a genial, bespectacled 36-year-old Methodist minister whose ascension to power could be short-circuited if he is unable to help preserve caucus harmony and if notions of a palace coup take root.

Steele's position is especially tricky because he currently serves as speaker pro tempore--the House's No. 2 position. This isn't a mostly ceremonial job like lieutenant governor or vice president. The pro tem actually sits in the speaker's chair every day, wielding power over who speaks and who doesn't--and for how long. He also is routinely called upon to interpret murky, arcane House rules, a power all but certain to produce bruised egos and short tempers.

Not surprisingly, the speaker pro tem is rarely the most popular guy in the House Chamber--and on occasion might well be the most despised.

Steele glided fairly through his four terms as a state representative, winning praise from both his GOP colleagues and from Democrats as a workhorse, not a show horse. His efforts on behalf of children, low-income Oklahomans and seniors won him numerous awards and accolades.

As he rose into leadership, however, Steele made compromises that turned off staunch allies and created more than a few enemies.

One of his biggest mistakes, in my view, was throwing families with autistic children under the bus this past session. Steele had been working closely with those families for several years to require insurance companies in Oklahoma to cover autism--a proposal known as Nick's Law.

As Steele well knows, autism is a ticking time bomb for state taxpayers--early, sustained treatment is less costly and can help sufferers lead more normal, more productive lives; those who go without help often need expensive, lifelong care, typically in institutional settings.

Unfortunately, big insurance is a powerful force these days at the Capitol, perhaps even the most influential. With designs on the speakership, Steele jettisoned the common-sense proposal--which was killed in committee--and instead pursued legislation designed to increase the number of doctors trained to diagnose and treat autism.

Question: What good does it do if rank-and-file Oklahomans can't afford to be diagnosed or treated?

What's worse, Steele argued it was the best lawmakers could do. Baloney. It was the Insurance Industry Profits Protection Act of 2009, pure and simple. It's a shell game, shifting costs from insurance companies (which would cover treatment for children) to taxpayers (who would pay for much costlier adult care).

Credible studies show mandating autism coverage has no appreciable affect on premiums. In other words, it doesn't hurt insurance company profits. But big insurance doesn't want the Legislature to start approving any more mandates--none have been required since Republicans gained a House majority in 2004. The last mandate? Mammograms. Can you imagine where we'd be if women weren't encouraged--and insurance didn't cover--the annual exams?

Similarly, the dust-up over property taxes is the result of another case of legislative cost-shifting.

Dank, an affable 71-year-old grandfather and former newspaper publisher, wants to cap annual property tax increases at three percent and freeze property tax rates for seniors over 65, many of whom are on fixed incomes. Seems reasonable.

The problem is, public schools and other essential government services rely heavily on property taxes. Dank's proposal would put a serious financial crimp in those long-term services, unless lawmakers pony up additional dollars.

That, however, would require legislators to either make significant cuts in other government services or raise taxes to offset the loss, neither of which is palatable politically. They would prefer to keep the status quo--meaning that property taxes double every 13 years in Oklahoma--than be put in the position of having to answer to the voters about spending priorities or raising taxes.

It's an issue that's not going away. Dank has made that clear. And he has more than a few allies in the Legislature.

Many of the newer House members have more in common with the Tea Party activists than with the corporatists who run the House as a wholly owned subsidiary of the State Chamber of Commerce.

They might be registered Republicans, and they may share much of what has become the GOP worldview--especially when it comes to religion and knocking down the wall separating church and state--but the reality is that they identify less with their party and more with ideology.

They don't play by the old rules of party discipline that allow disagreements behind closed doors but demand lock-step unity in public.

This brings us back to Steele's tricky position. House Republicans may have decided by acclamation last fall that he would be speaker-in-waiting, but there's nothing to prevent unhappy--or ambitious--members from staging a coup before he can grab hold of the gavel.

After all, he must first survive what could well be a raucous, even angry session for lawmakers dealing with a revenue crisis that will slash state spending from $7.1 billion as recently as 2008 to only $5.3 billion available next year. Further, the makeup of the House will change in the November elections--some current members who supported Steele for speaker won't be around any longer, for example, because of term limits. The newcomers might prefer a different candidate.

If Steele, Benge and other House Republican leaders can't figure out a way to manage the personalities and issues, and if the House ends up in open revolt this session, it could end up costing Steele dearly.

-- Arnold Hamilton is editor of The Oklahoma Observer; www.okobserver.net

URL for this story: http://www.urbantulsa.comhttp://www.urbantulsa.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A29121

OK State Republicans can’t have it both ways on healthcare rationing

By Bailey Dabney, Publisher
CLAREMORE DAILY PROGRESS


September 8, 2009 September 08, 2009 12:23 pm

— The national healthcare debate goes on. Support for the plan with a government run public option is sparse and momentum for it’s passing never built.
That may prevent the passage of the largest healthcare overhaul America has ever seen.

The debate, however, rages on, and will likely continue until some type of compromise is met. There appears to be a consensus that changes are warranted. Scope and structure are at the heart of the disagreement.

‘Rationing’ is the most common fear of those who oppose the Congressional plans that have been proffered to date. It’s certainly not the only problematic by-product of a government run system, but it definitely resonates with scores of Americans.

Who could want healthcare rationing? Town Hall style meetings show standing-room-only crowds who oppose rationing.

Other countries with government run health systems are certainly rationing, which has brought many foreigners from countries who offer “free” care to America for appropriate treatment.

They seek better healthcare here and are willing to travel and pay for it.
Republicans and many Democrats across the country are diametrically opposed to the rationing of care.

Here’s the kicker. In Oklahoma: the most conservative state in the union, where Republicans control the House and the Senate, we already are rationing healthcare for the insured as well as the uninsured with Autism.

There’s no other way to describe it. There are medically necessary and clinically proven treatments and therapies that Doctors and Therapists prescribe that insurers refuse to cover. That’s exactly what rationing is.

Both Republican candidates for Governor, Mary Fallin and Randy Brogdon, have issued statements on their websites and in the media denouncing the rationing of healthcare.

Yet Oklahoma’s healthcare rationing has been sanctioned by the Republicans in the State legislature with their refusal to hear or pass Nick’s Law.

Nicks Law is a bill that is specifically designed to stop Oklahoma insurance companies from rationing healthcare to children and adults with autism.

It would require the insurance companies to cover therapies proven effective in the recovery and improvement of autistic children.

Speaker Pro Tempore Kris Steele, Speaker Chris Benge, Sen. Glen Coffee, et al have one leg on the dock and the other in boat.

Their tacit approval of rationing healthcare to children suffering with a debilitating illness in Oklahoma flies directly in the face of the Grand Old Party’s best and most prolific argument against nationalized healthcare.

It is the height of hypocrisy for state Republicans to oppose rationing care when it comes from a Democrat in the White House yet argue for rationing when it comes before them in the Oklahoma House of Representatives or Senate.

I look forward to Senator Brogdon exercising his newfound distaste for healthcare rationing when the next legislation session begins.

While our current healthcare system needs some re-engineering to close some small gaps, the Democrat sponsored bills for a government run health system have far too many flaws to be reasonable solutions to our healthcare woes.

Those who represent us in Oklahoma City, and those who wish to, should square their actions with their beliefs. Stop rationing healthcare in Oklahoma. Make sure the insurance industry fulfills its obligations to their paying customers in Oklahoma.

Perhaps if the states took better care of this problem, our federal government would get back to doing the things the founding fathers envisioned.


Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.

Cost of Autism Mandate Projected in Reports

By Amy Lester, NEWS 9

Posted: May 20, 2009

Click here to link to the video

Nick Rohde, for whom the bill Nick's Law was named, learns new skills during a therapy session. It costs his family $1,000 each week for the therapy.

Supporters of Nick's Law argue the report requested by the House of Representatives is inaccurate and misleading to lawmakers.

Nick's father and autism advocate, Wayne Rohde, says he'll continue to fight for an autism mandate in Oklahoma.

The battle continues at the Capitol, but supporters of Nick's Law say if the bill doesn't pass this session, they'll keep trying.
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The debate surrounding insurance coverage for autism continues each legislative season, spurred on by reports projecting vastly different increases in health insurance premiums.

A bill called Nick's Law would force insurance companies to cover autism treatments and therapies. Opponents of the bill claim health insurance premiums will skyrocket, but supporters don't agree.

The Rohde family dishes out $1,000 a week, a high price to pay. That's the only option since their health insurance does not cover autism treatments or therapy for Nick, whom the bill is named after.

"Like other families, we spend a lot of money out-of-pocket, our pocket, and it gets difficult," Nick's father Wayne Rohde said.

Nick's father Wayne Rohde and Senator Jay Paul Gumm (D-District 6) have fought for the bill for two legislative sessions, unsuccessfully.

"Ultimately, the payoff is huge," Senator Gumm said. "There's a human payoff, in that these children have a chance to have a full and happy life as an adult."

At the center of the resistance against Nick's Law is how much it may raise insurance premiums.

Supporters point to a study which finds it could increase rates from .5 percent, or less than $2 each month, up to 1.5 percent.

Other states have experienced rate increases, which could mirror the potential increases Oklahoma would experience if Nick's Law is passed.

Opposing Reports for Oklahoma:

Reports % of Projected Increase

Opponent Report (Conducted by Thomas Cummins) up to 19.8%

Supporter Report (Conducted by State Employees Insurance Company up to 1%


Experienced Rate Increases in Other States with Autism Mandate:

State Rate of Increase Experienced

Arizona .55%

Pennsylvania $1 per member, per month

Louisiana $.74-$.93 per member, per month


The Council for Affordable Health Insurance projects autism mandates increase health insurance permiums by 1 percent.

Having the information from other states presented to them, Nick Law's supporters question the integrity of the study which reported Oklahoma would experience an 8 to 20 percent increase.

Speaker of the House Chris Benge stands behind the report, releasing the following statement:

"This report, unfortunately, confirms that adding this autism insurance mandate does in fact increase the cost of insurance and could lead to more Oklahoma families being forced to drop coverage."

Speaker Pro Tempore Kris Steele also supports the findings, but Nick's Law supporters want to know why their report calculates a much higher increase in premium costs.

"Each state is unique and the population of people that live in each state is unique and in Oklahoma, again we have the fourth highest number of uninsured and that contributes to what this would cost to the people who do have insurance," Representative Steele said.

Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, the author of Nick's Law, couldn't disagree more.

"It's a very, very small cost," Senator Gumm said. "Less than a cup of coffee a month for most premium payers."

Thomas Cummins, the actuary who conducted the study for the House of Representatives, believes his calculations are accurate.

Wayne Rohde, Nick's father, filed a complaint against him with the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline. The board dismissed the complaint, claiming Cummins did not violate the Code of Professional Conduct.

Ten states have laws similar to Nick's Law.

Radio Interview with KOSU about Nick's Law

Click here to listen to radio interview on KOSU. Sen Jay Paul Gumm, Wayne Rohde, and Rep Kris Steele discuss Nick's Law.

Interview was conducted Wednesday, May 20th

Autism specialists bill only a ‘small step,’ Democrats say

Edmond Sun

RAY MARTIN
State Capitol News Service


OKLAHOMA CITY May 14, 2009 02:31 pm

— The Oklahoma Legislature remains divided on the issue of assisting families with autistic children, despite enactment of a new law designed to make services more available and affordable.

Even Democratic Gov. Brad Henry, who signed the law into effect May 4, expressed concern that the measure was only “one very small step” in the effort to help Oklahoma families dealing with autism.

Senate Bill 135, authored by Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, proposes to increase autism services and provide funding to train in-state specialists so families won’t have to travel out-of-state to obtain help.

The bill was one of several introduced this year in an attempt to increase care for autistic children. Like the other bills, SB 135 has caused much controversy between Democrats and Republicans.

Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication. Experts have testified that it afflicts as many as 1 out of 150 children, yet one study showed Oklahoma had only 10 autism treatment specialists.
Eighteen states have enacted some form of coverage mandate to make insurance companies help pay the cost of autism treatment. But the Oklahoma Legislature has balked at doing so, citing concerns that requiring coverage would increase health insurance premiums for everyone.

SB 135 does not force Oklahoma insurers to cover autism. Justice and most of his fellow Republicans insist it will provide relief for the families of autistic children by increasing the availability of in-state services. House and Senate Democrats generally disagree, claiming families will still be unable to afford services even if there are more specialists available to provide them.

In February, the Republican-controlled House Economic Development and Financial Services Committee voted down House Bill 1312, also known as “Nick’s Law,” which would have required insurance providers to cover autism treatment. The panel also voted to prohibit the Legislature from proposing similar measures until 2011.
Democrats offered a compromise — to put autism coverage in high-risk insurance pools as a last resort for families who can’t afford the coverage elsewhere.

Republicans again declined, and instead went forward with SB 135 and its House version, HB 2027. Subsequent votes tended to stick to party lines.

Henry and other Democrats generally don’t oppose the legislation, which they say is better than nothing. But they contend that attempts to solve the problem in reverse, by increasing services but not helping families pay for them.

“It’s all in the wrong order. It doesn’t provide any relief for families,” said Sen. Jay Paul Gumm (D-Durant), who tried unsuccessfully to amend SB 135 to include high-risk insurance benefits after Nick’s Law was shot down. “The glimmer of good in it is that it gives state recognition to apply state licensing therapies and encourages the training of therapists. But it creates a brain drain, because we’re going to train a bunch of therapists, and they’re going to move out of state since there isn’t a market here, and people won’t be able to afford the services.”

Democrats say the new specialists will be insignificant if autism is not added to high-risk insurance policies and families can’t afford the services. Some claim Republicans won’t budge on the issue because of financial ties and campaign commitments to insurance companies. Republicans dismiss such accusations.

Justice said the bill is actually the first step toward relief, since experts would advise how to best create affordable service and how to keep insurance costs from skyrocketing.

“To me, it’s the foundation,” Justice said. “If we don’t have the right experts who understand them (autistic people), we might waste all kinds of money. We have to know what we’re doing before we start spending.”

Nick’s Law was endorsed in the Senate four times last year, but was denied a hearing in the House.

Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, the House sponsor of HB 2027, said he agrees with other Republicans who oppose mandated coverage because it could raise insurance premiums for everyone, making health coverage less affordable. But Gumm said such concerns are unfounded, based on the financial impact of mandated coverage in other states.
“Why does California have cheaper premiums than we do when they have mandated coverage?” Gumm asked after a floor debate about autism coverage on May 6. “The evidence just is not there to support that claim.”

Currently, 18 states require mandated medical coverage for autistic children. More than 30 are considering measures to add the insurance requirement. Gumm and Henry have both pledged to keep fighting for passage of Nick’s Law.

When Henry signed SB 135, he challenged lawmakers to expand services to children with autism.

“To provide comprehensive assistance to the families of children with autism, we must also approve legislation extending insurance coverage to treatment of this developmental disability,” Henry said.

Said Gumm: “I will never stop fighting for these kids and their families. They’re too precious. The families are struggling too hard.”

RAY MARTIN is a senior journalism student at the University of Oklahoma who is writing a weekly legislative report for the Oklahoma Press Association.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.

Autism meeting reveals hope, frustration

By Liz McMahan
Muskogee Phoenix Staff Writer

March 14, 2009 08:24 pm

— Frustration was a common bond shared by parents, grandparents, caregivers and educators attending a community forum on autism Saturday morning.

They are frustrated not just by the difficulties and challenges they face every day in rearing their children, but also with a system that compounds those challenges many times over.

Autism is a brain development disorder that affects as many as one in 150 children, said Christi Kellogg, founder of the Hope Foundation for Children With Autism and Related Disorders, which hosted the forum at the Muskogee First Church of the Nazarene.

Jeff Edwards of Developmental Wings of Sallisaw said the number of children with autism is expected to get progressively larger. He said he recently talked to teachers who said they are seeing an 800 percent increase in the number of children with autism.

Four state representatives attended the session — two Democrats: Mike Brown of Tahlequah and Eric Proctor of Tulsa and two Republicans: Kris Steele of Shawnee and George Faught of Muskogee.

Steele is principal author of a bill that has passed the House that establishes a certification process for therapists working with autistic children.

That is the first step, he said, in getting insurance coverage for the condition. The bill will become effective Nov. 1 if it is signed into law.

He and Faught have opposed “Nick’s Law,” a Senate measure that would provide insurance coverage for services for autistic children.

Faught said the legislation would put an unfair burden on people like himself who don’t have group insurance. It could raise rates for the self-insured an estimated 7 percent to 20 percent, he said.

Brown took issue with the studies that estimated that increase. Other studies have shown private insurance rates would be increase 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent.
Proctor said insurance companies do not want to pay for treatment for autistic children because it would take away from the billions of dollars of profit they make every year.

He called for the state to place controls on insurance companies.
Those attending Saturday’s meeting said they want solutions now — that early intervention has proven to be of great help to autistic children.

Muskogee pre-school teacher Vickie Garrison said she saw great improvements in the 3-year-olds she used to have in her program. But the program has been cut and she now doesn’t get to see the youngsters soon enough or for long enough periods.

To delay helping parents get help with their children will have a long-ranging impact too, said Wayne Rohde, head of the Oklahoma Autism Coalition and father of Nick, the 11-year-old the proposed law is named for.

He quoted a Harvard study (actually per CDC - misquote) that shows 400 children are being diagnosed with autism each year.

“If we can get to them early enough and aggressively enough, almost 50 percent can recover by the time they reach grade school age,” Rohde said.

Those who are older have little chance of improvement(if not diagnosed properly and receiving treatment), he said. The first group of those children will become adults in four years and will be eligible for disability benefits. The Harvard study shows the cost of caring for autistic adults is $3.2 million per child for a lifetime.

Rohde said he shares the same frustration as all those attending Saturday’s meeting. He is especially frustrated in working with the Legislature in trying to get its help.

“We fight the schools, we fight the doctors and now, we’ve got the disrespect of the legislators,” he said.

Reach Liz McMahan at 684-2926 or lmcmahan @muskogeephoenix.com.

Forum to seek help for autistic children and their families

Published March 13, 2009

By Keith Purtell
Muskogee Phoenix Staff Writer

Parents of children with autism will get a chance to talk to Oklahoma legislators at a forum Saturday at Muskogee First Church of the Nazarene.

An effort earlier this year to pass a law requiring insurance companies to cover autism did not succeed.

Autism is a life-long developmental disability that impair a person’s ability to communicate and acquire social skills, according to Autism Edu.

Christi Kellogg, founder of the Hope Foundation, said she and other parents organized the forum as a way to open a dialogue.

“This is our way of saying ‘Hey, we’re out here, we want to talk about our issues that are going on with trying to find health care for our kids,’” she said. “Also, we have people who have suggestions about alternative ways that we could fund autism treatments in Oklahoma. So, it’s not just a way to complain about what’s going on, but a way to get with our legislators and say ‘We’ve got some ideas and we want to work together with you and find some way to resolve this health care crisis.’”

Kellogg said parents of autistic children all across the state face huge obstacles in finding and paying for treatment.

“So here we are; we have no solutions as far as our kids go,” she said. “Parents are putting multiple mortgages on their homes just to pay for treatments for their kids, if they can even find treatment. In eastern Oklahoma, you’re lucky to find speech and occupational therapy. Other than that, it’s difficult to even find services and treatments for autism.”

The forum will also be a chance to present alternative ways to fund treatment for autistic children. At least two legislators have confirmed they will attend: Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee, and Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee.

If you go

WHAT: Autism Legislative Forum.

WHERE: Muskogee First Church of the Nazarene, 2700 E. Peak Blvd.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday.

ADMISSION: Free.

Dems' agenda is left to the shouting

by: MICHAEL MCNUTT NewsOK.com
Sunday, March 01, 2009

Click here to comment on Tulsa World article.

House Democrats promise to make more noise as legislation favored by the in-control Republicans is taken up on the chamber's floor in the next two weeks.

Many bemoan legislation they authored that did not make it out of committees by last week's deadline. In some committees, Democrats didn't speak out against measures they were against.

"The opposition will begin now," said House Democratic leader Danny Morgan of Prague. "What you're going to see from the Democratic caucus is a lot more activity from us on the floor so that the arguments against these pieces of legislation can be heard by the entire body and not a half-dozen committee members.

"I don't know that I've ever seen this caucus quite as invigorated as it is right now. Sometimes failure promotes energy."

House Republican leaders got all their key issues through committees — no surprise as Republicans control the House 61-40, and as a result, all committees.

House Speaker Chris Benge had all his key proposals — including bills promoting the use of alternative fuels through tax breaks and other incentives — passed unanimously out of committees.

"It's been a good, productive, first four weeks," said Benge, R-Tulsa. "We've got a lot of good things going. The budget (shortfall) still is going to be a challenge, of course, but I feel good about things to this point."

Democrats lost their showdown with Republicans over the autism mandate during a committee hearing on the second day of this year's session.

Benge said more study is needed on the cost of mandating coverage.

"We've established a good precedent that you deal with these mandate issues, examine them, analyze them and have a better understanding of the effects on all Oklahomans before you act on them," he said. "We put together a good plan, and I feel it's a step in the right direction to addressing families with autistic children."

Republicans got their proposal on how to deal with children with autism passed out of committee and basically eliminated any chance legislators would consider for the next two years the Democratic-backed idea of requiring insurance companies to cover children with autism.

The House Republican measure, by House Speaker Pro Tem Kris Steele of Shawnee, calls for enacting a licensing process for national board-certified behavioral analysts and expanding state programs that train doctors to diagnose and treat autism.

Still, Morgan said Democrats will try to keep alive the concept of insurance companies being required to cover treatment for children with autism.

"What we're wanting to do is just establish a pattern that if you cover other areas of medical service, then we think that autism ought to be just as important," he said.

Morgan said he's disappointed that two measures he filed didn't get heard by committees: establishing a no-call list for businesses, and prohibiting drivers under the age of 18 from being able to use cell phones while driving. He hopes to find some bills where he can put in some of the language of his proposals.

With House members filing 1,270 bills, 46 joint resolutions, and six concurrent resolutions for consideration this session, it was understood that most would be set aside so essential bills picked by Republican leadership could make their way through the 17 weeks or so legislators are in session. Nearly 400 measures advanced to the House floor, a House spokeswoman said.

Lawsuit reform measures, bills promoting alternative fuels and energy independence, reducing the number of Oklahoma's uninsured, voters being required to show identification, revamping the state medical examiner's office, and modernizing and reforming state government buying practices all passed out of committees and will be up for action on the House floor in the next two weeks.

Other measures by Republicans that passed committees include making English the official language, taking steps to crack down on puppy mills and changing how workers compensation judges are picked.

A proposal by Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, to allow faculty members and those who have concealed gun permits along with firearms training to carry concealed weapons on college campuses remained bottled up in committee. Murphey, noting the Senate killed a similar measure, said he may wait until next session to bring out a guns-on-campus bill.

Oklahoma Democrats say GOP protecting insurance companies.

By Ron Jenkins/Associated Press Writer
Published: February 26, 2009

Oklahoma Senate Democrats are charging that Republicans are taking the side of insurance companies over the needs of their constituents.

Democratic leaders held a news conference Thursday to decry decisions by GOP leaders not to hear their insurance-related bills, including a measure to require insurance companies to cover autism in their health care policies.

Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, said Republicans are forsaking their pro-family ideals by killing insurance bills that help families dealing with critical health care needs.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee called the Democratic comments "over the top" and not helpful to their cause.

Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said he is still hopeful a compromise can be worked out that will improve the plight of families with autistic children.

He criticized Gumm for saying Republicans had "put a gun to children's heads" by not passing Gumm's autism mandate bill. Such comments, Coffee said, are counterproductive.

Gumm said earlier he was "absolutely aghast" that autism coverage had become a partisan issue in Oklahoma, when it had been passed in other states such as Louisiana with backing from Republicans.

Democrats said Republicans have shown a pattern in recent years of summarily rejecting legislation opposed by the insurance industry.

In defeating such bills, GOP lawmakers have generally said mandates sought by Democrats would drive up the cost of insurance too much.

"It's not our obligation in the Senate to make sure the insurance companies make money," said Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah.

Coffee said it was not like Republicans are not saying the insurance companies do not have faults and "all wear white hats."

He said Democrats are not giving enough credit to a bill sponsored by Rep. Chris Steele, R-Shawnee, to increase the number of providers of autism services in the state.

He said Steele's bill will be the vehicle for any compromise that can be worked out on autism.

McCarville Report Online

Autism Bill Draws Support, Discussion

http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2009/02/autism-bill-draws-support-discussion.html

Democratic Floor Leader Mike Brown, D-Tahlequah, and Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, today praised the passage of a bill designed to enhance services for autism in the state, but cautioned that the bill may not do enough to help families of children with this disease. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Speaker Pro Tem Kris Steele to ensure this bill is as effective as possible,” Brown said. “I’ve always believed that we can craft good legislation by reaching across the aisle to share our concerns and then allow full debate by the good public servants of the House of Representatives." Brown and Steele, R-Shawnee, collaborated on improving language to HB2027 before it was introduced on the House floor to ensure that the bill would remain in full compliance with existing statutes. “I’ve visited with administrators at Northeastern State University, and they’re ready to implement this training program. As soon as this funding comes through, they are set to start training autism providers,” Brown added. “This bill, however, remains only a partial solution to the greater problem of helping families of children with autism,” Brown stated. “They face greater challenges not addressed by this bill, such as paying for costly treatment for their children. Since many insurance companies don’t cover care for autism, even families who can afford private insurance may not be able to afford treatment – so how will these new providers afford to stay in Oklahoma?” Dorman joined Brown in praising passage of the bill, but also held reservations whether this bill does enough to help Oklahoma families. “My greatest concern is that without a way to ensure these providers a mechanism for payment, we’ll experience a ‘brain drain’ and lose them to other states,” said Dorman. “Training more autism providers is an excellent step in the right direction, but I am concerned especially for people in rural areas that they will still be unable to find autism specialists or pay for their services.”

Bill passed to provide autism therapists

By RON JENKINS

Associated Press Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A Republican plan setting standards for health professionals to treat autism passed the state House on Thursday, a week after a committee controlled by the GOP killed a bill to require insurance companies to cover the disorder.

Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, said there is a lack of therapists in Oklahoma to treat autism. He said his bill will create a network of training to increase the number of autism therapists.

"The most important move we can make right now is to increase the number of specialists trained to treat children with autism," Steele said.

No lawmakers opposed the plan, but several questioned how much good it will do if insurance companies are not required to cover autism diagnosis and treatment.

Last week, a committee controlled by the House Republican majority defeated a bill to mandate autism coverage. Families with autistic children have tried to no avail for two years to get mandated coverage.

Reps. Mike Brown, D-Tahlequah, and Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, said Steele's legislation is a step in the right direction, but questioned if it does enough to help families with autistic children.

"They face greater challenges not addressed by this bill, such as paying for costly treatment for their children," Brown said.

"Since many insurance companies don't cover autism, even families who can afford private insurance may not be able to afford treatment. So how will these new providers afford to stay in Oklahoma?"

"My greatest concern is that without a way to ensure these providers a mechanism for payment, we'll experience a brain drain and lose them to other states," Dorman said.

"Training more autism providers is an excellent step in the right direction, but I am concerned especially for people in rural areas that they will still be unable to find autism specialists or pay for their services," he added.

The bill sets up a licensing procedure for autism specialists with the Developmental Disabilities Services Division of the Department of Human Services. Therapists must be certified by the National Behavior Analyst Certification Board.

The measure provides training for treatment of children with autism as part of the Sooner Start program, which provides early intervention and treatment for children with disabilities and developmental problems.

Oklahoma House committee kills autism mandate

to read comments click here.

By The Associated Press
Published: February 3, 2009
Buzz up!

OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation to require health insurers to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism was killed Tuesday evening by a state House committee that effectively blocked the mandate proposal from being considered in the House again for two years.
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Instead, the Republican-controlled House Economic Development and Financial Services Committee unanimously approved legislation to increase the number of certified therapists for autistic children.

Supporters said an autism coverage mandate would drive up health insurance rates in Oklahoma and that it is meaningless to consider one until there are enough therapists to do the job.

"The discussion we're having today, in my opinion, is premature," said House Speaker Pro Tem Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, author of the therapist bill. "We're not ready for this kind of mandate because the services do not exist."

"I don't believe that providing a promise without a solution is what we need," said the committee's chairman, Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa.

Supporters of the mandate bill, known as "Nick's Law" after for an 11-year-old autistic boy from Edmond, Nick Rohde, argued that therapists will not move to the state to provide services to autistic children without a guaranteed revenue stream to pay them, like that provided by mandated health insurance coverage.

"Without any help, we know where they're going to end up," said the bill's author, Rep. Mike Brown, D-Tahlequah, who said taxpayers eventually will have to pay for the care of dysfunctional autistic children.

Autism is a bioneurological disability that affects communication skills in young children, many of whom also suffer from ailments such as allergies, asthma and epilepsy. Officials estimate it affects about one out of every 150 children in the U.S.

Along party lines, committee members voted 10-5 against a motion to send the autism mandate measure to the House floor as dozens of autistic children, their parents and other family members crowded into House meeting rooms to hear discussion and debate on the autism bills.

It then voted 9-5 for a do-not-pass motion that under House rules will prevent the mandate idea from being considered again until a new Legislature is seated in 2011.

"The language is dead — really dead," Brown said. "It cannot be heard for two years.

"They wanted this off the plate," Brown said of House Republican leaders. "They did not want to deal with that."

Autism mandate legislation was passed by the Senate last year but was blocked in the House. Similar legislation is pending in the Senate again, but Sullivan said he will not schedule a hearing on the bill if it reaches the House.

After the meeting, some parents held photographs of their autistic children as lawmakers left the meeting room.

"It was a foregone conclusion," said Wayne Rohde, Nick's father. "What are they telling us back there? That we don't want to help these kids to the level that we need to?"

While Medicaid covers some services for the autistic children of low-income families and the wealthy can afford to pay, middle-income families struggle to afford behavioral and occupational therapies for their children. Rohde has said he spends up to $5,000 a month for therapy for his autistic son.

"You're throwing those parents into bankruptcy," Brown said.

Eight other states have passed the same autism mandate legislation and 10 states have similar laws, Brown said. Thirty-two states are considering a mandate to provide some relief to the families of autistic children.

"And the best thing we can do is look them in the eye and tell them to move to another state?" asked Rep. John Carey, D-Durant, a member of the committee.

"That's exactly what we're doing," Brown said.

The mother of two autistic children, Dr. Juliet Burk of Tahlequah, said she left her practice in Oklahoma and moved in with family members in upstate New York where mandated therapies were provided at no direct cost. Therapies for one son cost $30,000 a year.

"We left to find a funded infrastructure," said Burk, a self-described conservative Republican who said early and intense therapy for her children helped reverse their autism diagnosis.

Brown disputed a study performed for the state House that said an autism mandate would increase health insurance rates by at least 7.8 percent and possibly as high as 19.8 percent.

Brown said other studies, including one by the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board, concluded the cost would be 1 percent or less

House Autism plan misses the rim, and a great opportunity

By Bailey Dabney, Publisher
CLAREMORE DAILY PROGRESS

February 1, 2009 February 02, 2009 11:17 am— With what could have been a slam-dunk, the new Republican majority is shooting air balls. Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee submitted an Autism bill to compete with Nick’s Law, named for the autistic son of Robyne and Wayne Rohde of Edmond.

Nick’s Law passed the Senate last year only to be blocked in the house. It faces tactical opposition this year in both chambers. In the Senate, Glen Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, wrote protections into Senate rules that make it nearly impossible for the minority party to get a vote on a bill affecting the insurance industry.It’s notably odd that he didn’t extend the same protections to other industries. In the House, Steele’s bill addresses all of the faults Republicans find with Nick’s Law, but it stops short of delivering treatments.

Here are the basics of the two plans, condensed to the core:

•Nick’s Law (Senate Democrats, House Democrats): Requires insurance companies to cover the behavioral therapies that have a 20-year proven track record of success in improving and even recovering autistics. These therapies are known as Applied Behavioral Approach (ABA) therapies. Reasonable limits and exclusions apply.

•Steele Plan (no nifty name yet): Fully fund only the training necessary to build a cadre of ABA certified therapists to administer ABA therapies. The parents who can afford to pay for the therapies, which are currently not covered in Oklahoma by the insurance companies, will have services for their children, the ones who cannot afford it will not have them. A large majority of parents cannot afford this necessary therapy without insurance coverage.

The Republicans find fault with Nick’s Law, saying that actuarially it will be burdensome to insurance companies, causing rates to soar and sending more Oklahomans to the roles of the uninsured. They produced a projection that showed double-digit premium increases. The problem with Steele’s argument, and the argument of the Senate leadership, is that they haven’t bothered to check in with the actual experience of any of the 18 states that have enacted similar legislation.

Their projection is nothing more than a generic calculation on a piece of paper. What does the real life experience say? Maybe they should have checked with the Republicans in Louisiana, who wrote a bill similar to Nick’s Law, which passed both houses unanimously and was signed by a Republican Governor (who spoke at the Republican National Convention).

Did they compare notes with studies done by Pennsylvania before passage of their bill? The Democrats find fault with the Republican plan because it has no delivery method for the services. It doesn’t matter how many therapists you train if their clientele cannot afford to hire them. Once trained, they’ll just move to Texas where they can find work and insurance companies have to pay their part.

The Republicans have agreed, but not committed in any way to provide this training for the school systems. ABA should be done at school and home in order to be effective. So far the Republicans have said that’s a good idea, but I’ve yet to read anywhere that it’s become a part of their plan.

The Republicans and the Democrats must get together and pass BOTH of these plans. If the requisite hours of ABA, paid for by the insurance companies, would be excessive, then the passage of Nick’s Law AND HB 2027 fixes the problems of both bills, provided HB 2027 does go along with providing ABA in schools.How? The burden of ABA hours would then be shared by the school system, which must provide these children a free and appropriate education.

The Oklahoma Department of Education is encouraging the use of ABA in schools. They have sponsored ABA seminars throughout the state for teachers, therapists and parents. Research shows that children suffering from autism need 25 or more hours a week of ABA. The actuarial model that claims excessive insurance burden would be blown out of the water because ABA would be utilized at school and home.

Instead of jumping in with a real plan that has proven, tangible effects, some Republicans are making minimal effort with this counter bill that has no potential for a substantial outcome UNLESS it is coupled with Nick’s Law.

Some of our elected politicians do not want to do the right thing pertaining to the autism crisis, as long as they can say they did something. Nick’s law and the Republican counterpart are made for each other and should be joined together, ratified and implemented without any further ado.

Rep. Steele has now agreed to get the house version of Nick’s Law heard in committee on Tuesday Feb. 3. That is a good place to start. Don’t stop short of actually addressing this crisis with a real action plan that both sides of the aisle can show true bipartisanship for the well-being and future of all of our children.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.

[ Opinion ]

Updated: Thursday, January 22, 2009

The Steele Report By State Rep. Kris Steele The increased diagnosis of autism in society has fueled a debate about the best way to address the problem and help children with the condition. On one side are proponents of a political proposition that places bureaucrats and politicians in charge of medical decisions. The other side suggests efforts should focus on addressing infrastructure needs and allowing the market to efficiently and deliberately allocate resources for the maximum benefit of all. The political proposal is not without appeal. It offers an easy and swift reaction that on the surface sounds like a good thing, although it would only benefit a fraction of the families it professes to help. Building the infrastructure and allowing the market to respond are more likely to provide real hope and effective treatment with tangible benefits to children with autism without adding to number of uninsured. Last year, the Oklahoma House of Representatives identified numerous unanswered questions surrounding this issue and opted to conduct an in-depth study on autism and commissioned an actuarial analysis to determine the true costs of a mandate. The wisdom of that action has been validated in recent months. For instance, a leader in the private sector responded to the needs of Oklahoma families by announcing the addition of a market-driven autism benefit that will cover evaluations and management procedures as well as speech, physical, and occupational therapies. The professionals involved in that decision indicate the new benefits will provide significant services to children with autism without a dramatic spike in insurance rates. In addition, the interim study afforded the opportunity for the Legislature to address the root problem facing Oklahomans with autism - a lack of service providers. A recent state pilot program providing families over $12,000 to obtain autism-related services resulted in much of the money remaining unspent because there were not enough professionals to meet demand. That is why House Republicans will seek to develop and enhance the network of providers by instituting a state license for national Board Certified Behavioral Analysts. Implementing appropriate accountability measures will define the practice and protect Oklahoma families against exploitation by untrained professionals posing as "autism therapists." In addition, our initiative will seek funding for an applied behavioral analysis (ABA) Research Pilot Project that will provide supervision for students seeking licensure and determine the effects of qualified ABA. Our plan will also enhance current services by providing autism evaluation training for family doctors, specialized autism training for Sooner Start providers, and a parental training component that will empower families to continue therapies at home to supplement treatment and reduce expenses. The needs of families affected by autism are very real and often heartbreaking. The love of these caring parents is just as real and their worry about the future is intense. I understand the frustration many experience with the legislative process, but real solutions take time. We are experiencing genuine progress in the battle against autism in Oklahoma and the beneficiaries are the families of children with the disorder.

Progress being made

Progress being made
POINT OF VIEW

Autism assistance in state

BY STATE REP. KRIS STEELE

Published: January 18, 2009

The increased diagnosis of autism in society has fueled a debate about the best way to address the problem and help children with the condition.

On one side are proponents of a political proposition that places bureaucrats and politicians in charge of medical decisions. The other side suggests efforts should focus on addressing infrastructure needs and allowing the market to efficiently and deliberately allocate resources for the maximum benefit of all.

Kris Steele

The political proposal is not without appeal. It offers an easy and swift reaction that on the surface sounds like a good thing, although it would only benefit a fraction of the families it professes to help.

Building the infrastructure and allowing the market to respond are more likely to provide real hope and effective treatment with tangible benefits to children with autism without adding to number of uninsured.

Last year, the state House of Representatives identified numerous unanswered questions surrounding this issue and opted to conduct a study on autism and commissioned an actuarial analysis to determine the true costs of a mandate. The wisdom of that action has been validated in recent months.

For instance, a leader in the private sector responded to the needs of Oklahoma families by announcing the addition of a market-driven autism benefit that will cover evaluations and management procedures as well as speech, physical and occupational therapies. The professionals involved in that decision indicate the new benefits will provide significant services to children with autism without a dramatic spike in insurance rates.

The interim study afforded the opportunity for the Legislature to address the root problem facing Oklahomans with autism — a lack of service providers. A recent state pilot program providing families over $12,000 to obtain autism-related services resulted in much of the money remaining unspent because there weren’t enough professionals to meet demand.

That is why House Republicans will seek to develop and enhance the network of providers by instituting a state license for national Board Certified Behavioral Analysts. Implementing appropriate accountability measures will define the practice and protect Oklahoma families against exploitation by untrained professionals posing as "autism therapists.”

In addition, our initiative will seek funding for an applied behavioral analysis (ABA) research pilot project that will provide supervision for students seeking licensure and determine the effects of qualified ABA.

Our plan will enhance current services by providing autism evaluation training for family doctors, specialized autism training for Sooner Start providers, and a parental training component that will empower families to continue therapies at home to supplement treatment and reduce expenses.

The needs of families affected by autism are very real and often heartbreaking. The love of these caring parents is just as real and their worry about the future is intense.

I understand the frustration many experience with the legislative process, but real solutions take time. We are experiencing genuine progress in the battle against autism in Oklahoma and the beneficiaries are not politicians seeking publicity, but the families of children with the disorder.

Steele, R-Shawnee, represents District 26 in the Oklahoma House.

House leaders propose autism plan

By TIM TALLEY
Associated Press Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Republican leaders of the Oklahoma House unveiled a plan Tuesday to increase the number of therapists for autistic children in the state but said they remain opposed to an insurance coverage mandate for the disorder.

Continuing GOP opposition to an autism mandate may set the stage for another emotional showdown with Democrats and the parents of autistic children who support mandate legislation that passed the Senate last year but was blocked in the House. Similar legislation has been filed this year.

"Their plan is a step in the right direction, but it is only one step," said Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, author of mandate legislation known as "Nick's Law," named for an 11-year-old autistic boy from Edmond, Nick Rohde.

"Without some kind of private insurance component, the House's proposal will fall woefully short of dealing with the epidemic of autism," Gumm said.

"I do welcome their statements as a small first step forward. But they're ignoring the 800-pound gorilla," said Nick's father, Wayne Rohde.

"Practitioners will come to this state when they have a means of receiving desirable incomes," he said. "Nick's law would help thousands of children in Oklahoma. Their own plan is deny services to these children."

Republican House leaders refused to hear Nick's Law last year, claiming it would drive up the cost of health insurance for Oklahomans. Oklahoma already has 36 health insurance mandates.

A study prepared for the House that was released last week said an insurance mandate would increase health insurance rates by at least 7.8 percent and possibly as high as 19.8 percent.
Wayne Rohde said the study was "nothing short of a desperate move" and was full of errors.
"They are continuing to protect the insurance companies," he said.

Gumm said such increases have not been experienced in other states with autism insurance mandates.

Republican House Speaker Chris Benge of Tulsa acknowledged that the debate over Nick's Law was one of the most politically divisive of the 2008 Legislature. The Legislature convenes again on Feb. 2.

"This is an emotional issue. It's one that's been difficult for us to deal with," Benge said. "Issues that deal with children are so emotional."

But Benge and Speaker Pro Tem Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, said a requirement that health insurers cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism would be ineffective because of a shortage of trained providers that makes it difficult for families to obtain autism services.

Autism is a bioneurological disability that affects communication skills in young children, many of whom also suffer from ailments such as allergies, asthma and epilepsy. Officials estimate it affects about one of every 150 children.

House members conducted a series of hearings on autism last summer that found there is a lack of behavioral analysts and other legitimate service providers for autistic children in the state.
An autism pilot program conducted by the state Department of Human Services provided about $12,000 a year to each of 29 families with autistic children to obtain autism-related services, officials said. But many families ended the year with a significant amount of money unspent due to the limited number of legitimate providers.

"We found there's a glaring lack of service providers in our state," Steele said. "A mandate doesn't matter unless you have service providers."

Among other things, the House plan calls for a licensing process for national Board Certified Behavioral Analysts and enhancement of existing state programs to train doctors to diagnose and treat autism.

It would also enhance Sooner Start, Oklahoma's early intervention program for children with disabilities and developmental delays up to age 3, by providing professional training on the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders.

Steele estimated that implementing the proposals will cost about $500,000.

Anne Roberts, executive director of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, said rising autism rates among Oklahoma children calls for more effort to increase the availability of qualified service providers.

"This new initiative, with its multi-pronged approach, is an enormous step toward overcoming the barriers to the services so desperately needed by these children and their families," Roberts said.

Oklahoma House Unveils Autism Plan

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Media Division

January 13, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jennifer Monies, Press Secretary Contact: State Rep. Kris Steele
Oklahoma House of Representatives Capitol: (405) 557-7345
Office of House Speaker Chris Benge
Office: 405-962-7679
Cell: 405-550-8144

Contact: State Rep. Dan Sullivan
Capitol: (405) 557-7361

House Unveils Autism Plan

Legislation to Increase Providers Praised by Autism Advocates

OKLAHOMA CITY – A legislative proposal unveiled by House Republican leaders today would increase the number of therapists serving children with autism and help families access care for children with the disorder.
The proposal calls for enactment of a licensing process for national Board Certified Behavioral Analysts and enhancement of existing state programs that would train doctors to diagnose and treat autism.
"By increasing the number of providers, our proposal will allow market forces to alleviate the costs of autism services and increase access to care," said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. "Currently, there is a huge imbalance between supply and demand. We have only a few true providers in Oklahoma, but potentially thousands of children needing services."
During a legislative study conducted in 2008, lawmakers learned that a shortage of trained providers has made it difficult for families to obtain autism services even when they have state assistance.

When a recent state pilot program provided families $12,000 a year to obtain autism-related services, much of the money went unspent because there were not enough professionals trained to work with children with autism.

"Families of children with autism face very real challenges that are increased exponentially by the lack of trained service providers," said House Speaker Pro Tempore Kris Steele, R-Shawnee. "Fortunately, we don't have to reinvent the wheel and can maximize our resources by using existing programs to enhance training. As a result, our proposal will ensure families have access to legitimate service providers in a cost-effective manner."
"Until we build up the network of service providers in Oklahoma, any other solution is an empty promise to parents of children with autism," said state Rep. Dan Sullivan, a Tulsa Republican who chairs the House Economic Development and Financial Services Committee. "All the money in the world won't help a patient who can't find a doctor."
The plan was praised by several groups and officials that work with children with autism.

"This is an important step in building the capacity of our state to meet the needs of young children with autism," said Rene Daman, director of the Oklahoma Autism Network. "I commend the Legislature for taking these initial steps, particularly during a time of limited resources. The Oklahoma Autism Network is dedicated to working with the Legislature and other key stakeholders and coordinating the state initiatives addressing autism services for children, adults, and their families."

"The rising rates of autism among Oklahoma children calls for significant attention to ensure that these children have the best possible chance to succeed," said Anne Roberts, executive director of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. "There are multiple barriers to accomplishing this goal that require multiple solutions and one of those fronts is the lack of qualified providers. This new initiative, with its multi-pronged approach, is an enormous step toward overcoming the barriers to the services so desperately needed by these children and their families."

"The importance of early detection and early intensive intervention for children with an autism spectrum disorder has both political support (Combating Autism Act of 2006 P.L. 109-416) and extensive research support. The proposed legislation addresses both of these important endeavors by providing resources to improve access to early intensive services at no cost to families and by training professionals to utilize valid tools to diagnose. This will take an important step toward the goal of providing a coordinated system of services across the state," said Dr. Bonnie McBride, an assistant professor of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
"I am excited about and support the Oklahoma House proposal for expanding direct services for children and adults with autism and their families," said Martha Ferretti, Chairman of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. "These initiatives will compliment our preparation of occupational therapists and physical therapists to work with children and adults within the autism spectrum and their families and the autism program my department is conducting that is funded by the US Department of Education. These initiatives fit well in the Oklahoma Plan for Autism coordinated by the Oklahoma Autism Network, the leading organization promoting and conducting training and direct services in Oklahoma. Representative Steele's vision for helping shape this House initiative in addressing direct services in areas of scarcity of professionals will serve Oklahoma's children with autism and their families very well."
"I think the autism initiative announced today is a great step towards a more coherent strategy for serving people with autism in Oklahoma," said James M. Nicholson, director of the Developmental Disabilities Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. "Focusing on increasing the pool of qualified service providers will avoid many of the frustrations experienced by people in other states of having greater access to services but finding no services to access. The Oklahoma Autism Network has made great progress in supporting parents and existing service providers, and the steps outlined today will greatly enhance this effort. I commend Speaker Benge and Representative Steele for taking the lead in this important area in spite of the serious budget prospects for FY-2010."
The House plan includes the following components:

• Institute a state license to recognize national Board Certified Behavioral Analysts. The state recognition of the nationally required criteria will define what encompasses applied behavioral analysis and who is qualified to provide such therapy in Oklahoma. The law would include what evidence-based therapies fall under the umbrella of behavioral analysis.
• Enhance Sooner Start, Oklahoma's early intervention program for children with disabilities and developmental delays up to age three, by providing professional training on the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders.
• Increase training on the evaluation and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders.
• Deliver funding for an applied behavioral analysis (ABA) Research Pilot Project that would include supervision of college students seeking licensure (who would provide thousands of hours of service to children during the process), quantify the effects of applied behavioral analysis and include a parental training component.
• Replicate the Early Foundations model in another part of Oklahoma. The Early Foundations program, currently located in Oklahoma City and associated with the OU Health Science Center, is an autism model and outreach project that provides early intensive behavioral intervention and training of providers.
• In addition to the legislative proposals, the Legislature should also continue to support and encourage privately-funded research efforts, such as Aaron's Bridge which was founded, "to facilitate access to more treatment options in Oklahoma for children with disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder."

The House plan is expected to complement legislation approved last year that established a comprehensive autism training program at the University of Central Oklahoma.

The plan also complements recent developments in the private market, such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma's announcement the company will soon offer an autism benefit covering evaluations and management procedures as well as speech, physical, and occupational therapies.

OP/Ed from Rep Kris Steele

Studying complex problem
Point of view Autism

By State Rep. Kris Steele

Published: October 5, 2008

An area of interest for the Legislature this interim is the issue of autism. In an effort to streamline the process and establish a systematic approach, several legislators coordinated an in-depth study to identify, evaluate and discover more about the disorder.

State Reps. David Dank, George Faught, Joe Dorman, Wallace Collins, Mike Brown, Gus Blackwell and I joined forces to obtain information from parents of children with autism, medical experts, state agencies, and advocate organizations such as the Oklahoma Autism Alliance and the Autism Society of Central Oklahoma to better understand what services are currently available to families facing autism.

In addition, Dana Webb of the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board and Ann Trudgeon of the Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council presented information on what Oklahoma and other states are doing in relation to autism services, including insurance coverage.

Several key findings emerged throughout the course of the study. For instance, appropriate diagnosis and early intervention are extremely important to achieving improved outcomes for children with autism. A comprehensive treatment plan should include speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral treatment and parental training.

We also learned there is a need to develop a statewide network of service providers. A recent pilot program conducted by the Developmental Disabilities Services Division of the Department of Human Services provided 30 families $12,000 per year to obtain autism-related services. Unfortunately, much of that money remained unspent due to a lack of treatment providers.

An autism training program for behavior therapists at the University of Central Oklahoma coupled with cost-effective treatment programs could possibly be replicated at institutions of higher learning throughout the state to fill that provider gap. Oklahoma should also consider the possibility of state licensure and credentialing for certified behavior therapists. Research also is a significant piece of the puzzle.

Keith and Joni Geary, parents of a child with autism and founders of Aaron’s Bridge, are committed to developing a state-of-the-art biomedical research center for autism in Oklahoma through the private sector. Incentives for teacher training and physician education should also be implemented into a master plan. Successful programs such as the Oklahoma Teacher Registry Project that equips educators to identify and effectively teach students with autism should be expanded to include more participants.

Individuals with autism and their families face very real and significant challenges. The good news is Oklahoma has a solid foundation to build upon in our efforts to aid those families.

The goal of the Legislature should be to develop policies that lead to effective assistance and support for all families of children with autism.

Components of a comprehensive solution should include appropriate diagnosis, early intervention, effective treatment, sufficient service providers and valid research. Although study on this issue is ongoing, I believe a proposal can be developed that coordinates services and maximizes the benefit to all Oklahoma families challenged by this unique and complex condition.

Steele, R-Shawnee, is chairman of the House Health Subcommittee.