Fight for “Nick’s Law” continues beyond state’s borders; Doak and Crawford comment

By ANDREW W. GRIFFIN

Oklahoma Watchdog, editor

Posted: August 22, 2010

andrew@oklahomawatchdog.org

OKLAHOMA CITY — It was last month that long-time Oklahoma resident Wayne Rohde left their home in Edmond and took his family to Minneapolis, Minn. where he and his wife Robyne could get the sort of help that their autistic son Nick needs – help that was not available in Oklahoma.

Rohde is a passionate advocate of Nick’s Law, which was legislation a couple of years ago that looked to require insurance companies to cover health care services related to autism.

Although he is now in Minnesota and getting the kind of care there that he could not here, Rohde is following the issue back here in Oklahoma.

As Rohde noted in a recent press release, “There are 21 states that have passed similar legislation (to Nick’s Law, which failed here) and with New York waiting for their governor’s signature, that will make 22 states. Most of these states see insurance coverage for autism and other special needs conditions as a fiscally conservative approach to health care, a true pro-life position, and the morally responsible thing to do.”

This past week, Rohde spoke to Oklahoma Watchdog about his battles with the legislature and the seeming disinterest in the subject by the incumbent Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland. That said, Rohde noted that he has received some interest in support of Nick’s Law, or legislation like it, from the two Republican insurance commissioner candidates John Doak and John Crawford.

“John Crawford and John Doak reached out to me – Doak yesterday and Crawford last week — and they said they want to talk about Nick’s Law and autism. Doak inquired as to whether there were any other options. It was interesting.”

Rohde said that Doak has come out publicly against insurance mandates. And he noted that the anti-big-government Tea Partiers that surround Doak will “give him hell” if he comes out in support of a mandate.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Rohde said of Doak’s support. “The thing is that when you start getting into (the topic of Nick’s Law) and anybody sits down with myself or any other family with autistic children, they begin to realize there’s some merit to this. There’s a lot of merit to it. I’ve been promoting this as a conservative approach to health care.”

Contacted by Oklahoma Watchdog, Doak, man with over 20 years in the insurance field, said he is indeed against mandates but that he does want to analyze all the options out here.

“I’m not afraid to look at this,” Doak said. “I don’t like mandates … but I want to look at what has been done in other states and come up with a plan of my own.”

Doak noted that his own daughter, who is now 14, has had three open-heart surgeries and understands what it is like to “navigate the minefield of health care.”

“As Wayne outlined to me, my focus is to get by Tuesday. Then I want to sit down and do an analysis and do a dialogue with these companies and say if you’re offering this in Minnesota and it’s not a mandate, why can’t we do that here?” Doak said. “(Wayne Rohde) tells me that in Minnesota there are some things that have been done that are not mandates. I’m interested to learn how they have accomplished this.”

“I am running a campaign on ideas … on one that will address issues that affects families like Wayne’s,” he said. “I’ve been in over 50 counties in Oklahoma, individuals are seeking a candidate who will address the needs of people in Oklahoma and as a regulator, use that to the advantage of the people.”

Added Doak: “This is a need Oklahomans have. When it affects kids, we need to understand what we can do.”

Rohde appreciates Doak’s candor and his compassion, particularly in light of his daughter’s health issues. Rohde said that often autism is covered, mandate or not, because lawmakers in other state’s have been personally affected by a health issue, usually affecting a child they know.

Crawford, meanwhile, talked to Oklahoma Watchdog on Sunday evening and said that he had talked to Rohde a few weeks ago and was “really impressed” with the information that Rohde had presented to him.

“He had some really interesting data,” Crawford said. “He has some actuarial studies that gives some strong indications it’s an affordable benefit.”

Crawford said Rohde has “the best unique approach for the long run. He’s talking about going down the road 20 years from now and allowing these people to be viable members of society.”

Noting that the information was “timely,” Crawford, an actuary, said he is encouraged, if elected, to work on the information he has received and then bring it forward to the insurance companies.

“if ht numbers come up and it’s reasonable, let’s look at it,” Crawford said. “That’s the fair approach.”

As Rohde explains it, a “social net” needs to be available to families and that if the insurance companies would work with the state on a specific “insurance model,” and develop a network of providers, “the free market takes over.”

An increasing number of states are addressing insurance coverage for autism. He said they realized that eventually these children will grow up and be adults and require more state services. Why not, Rohde said, have the states like Oklahoma mandate the coverage and get these afflicted children the help they need before it worsens over time, particularly before the economy sours any more than it already has.

“If we don’t address this issue, we will have thousands of kids in Oklahoma who will grow up and rely on caregivers,” Rohde said. “The first big wave will hit ina couple of years. They’re going ‘ding, ding, ding’ and require more services and taxpayers pick up the tab.”

Continuing, Rohde said, “Jails will fill, health institutions in the state will be full … more homeless people.”

That is where Doak and Crawford come in. Both men, Rohde said, “were aghast at the underbelly of what has happened” in regards to Nick’s Law and how his family and other Oklahoma families with autistic children have been treated.

“The past three years at the Capitol we have tried to pass Nick’s Law. We have been hit by procedural rules in the House designed to shut us down specifically. In the 2009 legislative session we got a committee hearing the first day of session.” Rohde said this was simply a tactic which would get it out of the way – a “Do Not Pass” motion meant for Nick’s Law.

“It was designed to hit us and stop us. Rep. Kris Steele made sure everybody voted the correct way,” Rohde said with a tinge of bitterness in his voice.

Rohde is frustrated he had to leave friends and family in Oklahoma and make a new home in a new state. He said the change has been difficult for Nick, who requires a routine. Nevertheless Minnesota is an “autistic-friendly” state and Nick is getting the help he needs.

“A legislative mandate is not socialism,” Rohde said. “It’s telling the insurance company that ‘you must cover it.’ Free market health care takes over because insurance companies go out and find qualified therapists and set their own rates.”

Asked why the insurance companies are against these mandates – Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Illinois, New Mexico and Texas all have mandates – Rohde said the insurance companies have a monopoly and “they are free and clear to do what they want.”

Rohde said that in March 2010 SoonerPoll.com poll, three questions were asked about “the diagnosis and treatment of autism.” 79.5 percent of respondents supported health insurance to cover diagnosis and treatment of children with autism. Another question revealed that over half of respondents would “oppose” a candidate who was against such insurance coverage and in the final question, 67 percent supported “a state ballot initiative to make a law requiring health insurance to cover diagnosis and treatment of children with autism.”

Clearly, Oklahomans desire the goals Wayne Rohde and his family are seeking. Additionally, it is interesting to see that both Republican insurance commissioner candidates have sought more information on the subject and appear supportive of Rohde’s efforts, despite efforts by some conservative activists to stop Nick’s Law and related legislation.

“I told Doak and Crawford that the reason the costs (for insurance coverage) were not as high is that you want to throw as much as you can at them and scale it down as they get older. Highly-functional Asberger’s kids may not need (coverage),” he said, noting that “autism is a spectrum disorder and has different degrees of severity.”

Rohde points to the influential Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee, led by Charlie Meadows. Rohde said that he has attended some of their group meetings and has spoken before OCPAC, the group that endorsed John Doak.

“If you want to have a true conversation about (Nick’s Law), distance yourself from Charlie Meadows,” Rohde said, noting that at a meeting where he discussed the issue, Meadows allegedly told Rohde “why don’t you move to another state.” Rohde said he retorted, “Hey, your group isn’t getting any younger.”

“Charlie’s a nice guy, but when he get into the meeting he likes to dominate,” Rohde said, adding, “He can’t be a dominant player because he has very narrow views.”

Interestingly, Mark Croucher, the Tulsa Republican who came in third in the Insurance Commissioner’s race, was on “The Scott Mitchell Show” this weekend on KOCD 103.7 FM and when asked by this reporter about mandating health insurance for autistic children, he said he opposes mandates but sees other options as viable.

Croucher, by the way, has endorsed Crawford, saying, that “Crawford has the actual experience” when it comes up between a matchup of Holland against either Crawford or Doak.

Rohde compliments Sen. Jay Paul Gumm (D-Durant) and Rep. Mike Brown (D-Tahlequah), two Oklahoma legislators who have championed Nick’s Law.

Back to Doak and Crawford, Rohde said both men “are interested genuinely” and that he hopes when it comes to the weeks and months leading up to the Nov. 2 general election that this discussion about Nick’s Law and mandated coverage will come up in the race.

“I’m simply asking them to have a discussion and an open debate about it,” Rohde said. “This issue is not going away. Oklahoma has to address it.”

Copyright 2010 Oklahoma Watchdog

Insurance reform supporters plan move

Edmond Sun, July 8, 2010

EDMOND — An Edmond family who has led the charge for autism insurance reform in the state is planning to move.

Wayne Rohde announced in an e-mail and Facebook e-mail that he, his wife Robyne and their sons, Austin and Nicholas, will move to Minnesota at the end of the month. His youngest son, Nicholas, is the namesake of Nick’s Law, which did not gain final legislative approval a year ago. The law would have mandated that insurance companies cover autism health care costs in Oklahoma, and was the center of a bitter partisan fight at the state Capitol.

“While we are very excited to go to a state that is autism friendly and we will be able to provide the greatest amount of education and medical care for our son Nick, we are saddened to leave Oklahoma and the many friends that we have had the pleasure of meeting and knowing,” Wayne Rohde wrote.

He encouraged those who remain in Oklahoma to continue the pursuit for autism insurance coverage. He cited the 21 other states that now have autism insurance coverage and thanked Sen. Jay Paul Gumm and Rep. Mike Brown for their efforts to pass Nick’s Law.

“Most of these states see insurance coverage for autism and other special needs conditions as a fiscally conservative approach to health care, a true pro-life position, and the morally responsible thing to do,” Rohde wrote.

OK Watchdog Executive Director Jeff Raymond worked with Rohde at the Capitol for insurance reform.

“Through tenacity, a single-minded dedication to his son and force of personality, Wayne Rohde united parents of children with autism and was instrumental in keeping health insurance reform and accountability in the public eye and on lawmakers’ radar year after year,” Raymond said Thursday. “Before I got to know Wayne, I had become cynical about the idea that an average person could bring about meaningful change. Wayne has restored my faith in one’s ability to make a difference. I have no doubt the changes he fought so hard for will reach Oklahoma one day.”

Rohde said he encourages advocates for insurance reform to get to know the bevy of new candidates running for political office this year and to let them know where constituents stand on the issue.

“There is a tidal wave approaching our nation regarding the large numbers of children with autism becoming adults in the next three to four years. Employment, housing, long-term care and many other issues will have to be addressed,” Rohde wrote.

Moving on Up

Want to announce to all of you that my family and I are moving from Edmond to Minnesota at the end of the month. While we are very excited to go to a state that is autism friendly and we will be able to provide the greatest amount of education and medical care for our son Nick, we are saddened to leave Oklahoma and the many friends that we have had the pleasure of meeting and knowing.

The battles at the state capitol for insurance coverage for autism (Nick’s Law) and other medical conditions for our children, teenagers, and adults must go on. We are very proud of the many families and parents that have given so much to move this state forward. We appreciate each and every one of you, for advocating for your kids and other family members, and for never giving up.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” – Margaret Mead

Sen Jay Paul Gumm and Rep Mike Brown will continue the fight for Nick’s Law. These are men of great character and conviction. Help them and follow them. There are now 21 states that have passed similar legislation and with New York waiting for their governor’s signature, that will make 22 states. Most of these states see insurance coverage for autism and other special needs conditions as a fiscally conservative approach to health care, a true pro-life position, and the morally responsible thing to do. Continue that approach at 23rd and Lincoln.

There is an emergence of new candidates running for political office. Seek them out, get to know them, and talk with them. It is your responsibility to let your elected representatives know where you stand.

This state has so far to go but because of your efforts and from others, we have come a long way. There are those who have been advocating for many years prior to our recent efforts in the last 4 to 5 years. They are to be congratulated and honored. Learn from them. And there will be many to come after our efforts. Welcome them, teach them, and encourage them.

“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.” – Proverbs 31:8-9

We had the privilege of working side by side with many of you at the capitol and throughout the state fighting for Nick’s Law, reforming special education in our state, advancing public awareness of autism and special needs, and other issues related to special needs children and adults.

But there is so much more to do. Many of our children will become teenagers very soon and employment opportunities need to be expanded. Many of you are on the forefront of transition services, we thank all of you for your tireless work. There is a tidal wave approaching our nation regarding the large numbers of children with autism becoming adults in the next 3 to 4 years. Employment, housing, long term care, and many other issues will have to be addressed.

“It was once said that the moral test of our society, our government, is how we treat those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.” – Hubert Humphrey

So we say good bye to all of you. Best wishes for you and your families. God Bless.

Sincerely,

Wayne, Robyne, Austin, and Nicholas Rohde

Autism law draws advocates' praise

Previously, insurers could deny coverage for unrelated treatments.

By SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer
4/24/2010

Advocates for children with autism say that a bill signed into law Friday by Gov. Brad Henry is a good first step toward parity in health coverage for the disorder.

The legislation, added to Senate Bill 2045, requires health insurers to cover the same illnesses for autistic children as they do for children without the condition. The law came about after parents reported that medical coverage was denied for services having nothing to do with autism, such as playground injuries.

"This is a bill to stop any restrictions or discrimination against individuals with autism from medical or surgical procedures that are currently covered," said Wayne Rohde, whose 12-year-old son Nick was diagnosed with severe regressive autism when he was 4.

"The insurance companies needed to stop this discrimination. The leadership of both parties decided it wasn't right."

Rohde said insurance companies were limiting coverage for occupational and speech therapy for autistic children but not imposing those limitations for children without autism seeking the same treatment.

In one case, an autistic child was denied coverage for asthma treatments while an asthmatic child without autism was covered, Rohde said.

Christina Newendorp, development director at the Autism Center of Tulsa, who has two sons with autism, said parents had to decide whether they really wanted a diagnosis that could be used as a reason to reject medical claims.

Newendorp said the law won't require all insurance companies to cover the most effective treatments for autism, known as applied behavioral analysis, which can cost $2,000 to $4,000 a month.

That coverage was part of the 2009 failed legislation known as Nick's Law, named for Rohde's son.

"It doesn't address the larger issue of insurers out there who don't cover (autism) as a medical condition whatsoever," she said. "There's no logical reason for insurance companies not to consider autism a medical disorder. We're surrounded by states taking action on this issue. Oklahoma is dragging its feet."

With an estimated 1 in 150 children being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, there could be a tidal wave of disabled adults in the future if nothing is done, Newendorp said.

"If we take action now, we can help turn these children's lives around so they can become independent adults," she said.

Rohde said that, with treatment, Nick moved from a severe form of autism to the middle of the spectrum.

He is still nonverbal, but he now recognizes words, feeds and dresses himself and is not completely dependent on others for his care.

He also plays with his twin brother, Austin, who does not have autism, his father said.

"Austin is very proud and introduces him to the neighborhood kids," Rohde said. "Austin knows how to communicate with him."

Click here to read the article.

Bills passed to improve the quality of life for children

An excerpt from the Durant Daily Democrat

Click here to read the entire article.


....The second step forward for children last week was enactment of a bill I amended when it was before the Senate. For years, I have fought to require health insurance to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism. That bill, known as “Nick’s Law,” has passed the Senate a number of times only to falter in the House of Representatives.

During my time with parents of children with autism, they raised another issue. Some insurers routinely deny claims for children with autism when they pay claims for the same illnesses or injuries suffered by kids who do not have autism.

For parents of children with autism who pay health insurance premiums knowing the insurance will not cover autism, denial of claims not related to autism is like a punch in the gut. The families are paying for this coverage, and they are being denied for no good reason.

The effort to right this wrong began as a stand-alone bill I filed at the beginning of session. While working to get the bill heard in committee, time ran out. After very productive discussions, we struck a bipartisan agreement to move my proposal forward. I amended a bill on the Senate floor to include my original language.

Senators unanimously approved my amendment to Senate Bill 2045, and the bill passed the Legislature without a single “no” vote. It arrived on Governor Henry’s desk last week, and he signed it into law Friday.

While not everything we want to see on the issue of autism, this was a huge step in the right direction. This was such a bipartisan victory for families, the editorial page of one of the state’s largest newspapers wrote: “Passage of Senate Bill 2045 represents one of the Oklahoma Legislature’s finest hours.”

For me, I am thankful Oklahoma is a better state today for our children. And, I am forever grateful to the people of Senate District 6 for allowing me to be a part of the effort to make it so.

Thanks for reading this week’s “Senate Minute.” Have a great week, and may God bless you all.

Autism insurance bill goes to governor

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gov. Brad Henry's desk is the next stop for legislation requiring health insurers to cover the same illnesses for autistic children as they do children without the condition.

Sen. Jay Paul Gumm of Durant said Tuesday the measure was passed by the House and Senate and now goes to the governor to be signed into law.

Gumm says families have told him some insurers deny claims for autistic children for illnesses unrelated to the diagnosis. Oklahoma does not require health insurers to cover autism and most insurers exclude it.

Gumm says families with autistic children pay premiums to health insurers and expect to be treated fairly. He says that if an autistic child breaks an arm, they should be covered like anybody else.

Measure Providing Insurance Fairness for Children with Autism Goes to Governor

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bipartisan effort has put a bill on Governor Henry’s desk to make certain health insurance companies cover the same illnesses for children with autism as they do children without such a diagnosis.

That assurance is contained in Senate Bill 2045. When the bill was before the Senate, Senator Jay Paul Gumm proposed the language as an amendment, which senators overwhelmingly approved. The amended bill passed both the Senate and House of Representatives and is now on its way to the governor.

“During my work with families who have children with autism, this was one of their highest priorities,” said Gumm, a Democrat from Durant. “We have families who have children with autism who pay their premiums and expect to be treated fairly. This amended bill will ensure that very thing.”

The senator said dozens of families told him some insurance companies routinely deny claims filed on behalf of children with autism for illnesses and maladies unrelated to the diagnosis of autism. Such claims were denied because Oklahoma does not require health insurance policies to cover diagnosis and treatment of autism and most insurers specifically exclude autism.

“For me,” Gumm said, “this issue speaks to the fundamental moral question of ‘fairness.’ Regardless of anyone’s stand on whether insurers should be required to cover diagnosis and treatment of autism, one fundamental fact remains: If a child with autism breaks an arm on the playground or gets sick, they should be covered the same as any other child.”

Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, said his measure began as a stand-alone bill. After discussing the issue with Sen. Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow, and chair of the Senate Committee on Retirement and Insurance, a bipartisan agreement was struck to include the language in one of Brown’s bills.

“I want to express my deep appreciation to both Senator Brown and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee,” Gumm said. “Their support has made it possible to get this legislation through both chambers and to the governor. Families across Oklahoma will benefit because we worked together.

“It shows that we can set aside partisan differences and find that common ground on which we can build a better Oklahoma for all our citizens, and this was a critical step toward fairness for our children and families who are struggling with autism.”

Autism coverage redux

Disappointment doesn't even begin to describe the dashed hopes of families who had hoped earlier this year — for the second year in a row — that Oklahoma might join several other states in mandating insurance coverage for treatment of autistic children. House Bill 1312, "Nick's Law," was defeated in a House committee.

Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, said of the panel's members: "They tore the Band-Aid off now quickly because they think they won't have to endure the public scrutiny for the next two years. I think that's a serious miscalculation on their part. These families aren't going away. These kids aren't going away."

To read the entire Tulsa World article, click here.

Gumm is back with two bills for the coming session. One in every 150 children struggles with autism, the fastest-growing disability in the nation. Without early, aggressive treatment, autistic children will continue to rely on parents and when those parents die, they likely will become wards of the state, a costly proposition.

Nick's Law proposal returns for 3rd session

by M. Scott Carter
The Journal Record December 29, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY –

For Wayne Rohde, the third time could be a charm.

But the odds are stacked against him.Just weeks before the Oklahoma Legislature is set to reconvene, Rohde said he and state Sen. J. Paul Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, would try, once again, to pass legislation that would require insurance companies to cover patients diagnosed with autism.

Twice before the pair spent months fighting for their proposal – Nick’s Law.
Twice before they were defeated.

But this time, Rohde said, could be different.

“This will be the third straight session that Senator Gumm will introduce the legislation,” Rohde said. “We’re hopeful and optimistic that the Legislature will take a look at it.”

Under Nick’s Law, private insurance companies would be required to cover medically necessary and clinically proven medical treatments for children who have been diagnosed with autism by a licensed health care professional. Self-insured and federal employers would be exempt from the law and small business owners, he said, may choose to opt out of coverage under Nick’s Law.

The original bill, Senate Bill 1, remains in legislative purgatory in the Oklahoma Senate.

“This is very fiscally conservative health care,” Rohde said.

Rohde’s opponents say otherwise.

In May of 2008, Chris Benge, speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, said he was sympathetic to the plight of parents with autistic children, but had concerns about Gumm’s legislation. Benge would later play a major role in killing Gumm’s proposal.

“The burden they carry is great, their medical costs are high and they are desperate to find hope for their children,” he wrote in a letter to Gumm. “However, it must be a priority for policymakers to evaluate public policy on a comprehensive basis. We must weigh the implications of our policy decisions as to how they will affect all Oklahomans. While it is clear that Nick’s Law would benefit families with autistic children, we must determine with certainty the impact this mandate will have on access to health care for all Oklahomans.”

Mandates such as Nick’s Law, he said, drive up insurance costs.
“There is substantial, reliable data that shows mandates do in fact drive up insurance premium costs and in turn force people to drop insurance because it is no longer affordable,” Benge wrote. “Contrary to the popularly held opinion, mandates have little effect on insurance companies because they simply pass their increased costs on to the consumer.”

Later, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a conservative think tank, distributed flyers that praised state Rep. Ron Peters, a Broken Arrow Republican lawmaker who prevented a legislative hearing on Nick’s Law.

Peters, the OCPA said, was simply defending free enterprise.

Still, Gumm and Rohde said they would continue the push for an autism mandate.

This year, in addition to Senate Bill 1, Gumm said he filed Senate Bill 1316, which would include autism coverage in the state’s high-risk insurance pool.
“If you go back and look at the history of why the high-risk pool was created, you’ll see that it was created for people who couldn’t get insurance coverage anywhere else,” he said. “If that doesn’t sound like something that is tailor-made for families like those with children suffering from autism, then I don’t know what is.”

Rohde said Nick’s Law would prevent insurance companies from shifting their insurance costs onto the backs of taxpayers.

“The companies are taking advantage of a monopoly situation and shedding the risk off on taxpayers,” he said. “By changing the law, you allow people, parents who are currently purchasing insurance, to have coverage under a health insurance plan instead of seeking out taxpayer-funded services.”

It’s the same type of law, he said, that has been adopted in several surrounding states, including Texas and Louisiana.
“
There’s a lot of opposition here,” Rohde said. “There are some in the state Legislature which say they don’t want government to tell a private industry what to do. But those same people voted for tort reform, which is telling a private industry what to do. So there’s quite a bit of hypocrisy there.”

If lawmakers don’t take advantage of the third attempt to pass Nick’s Law, he said, they will eventually pay high costs because those families will seek taxpayer-funded services.

“The long-term approach is this: If we don’t address the needs of these children at an early age, the taxpayers will be providing long-term medical care for these children – who will become adults – for the remainder of their lives.”

Nick's Law - Health insurance coverage battle continues in Legislature

Health insurance coverage battle continues in Legislature
by Jay Paul Gumm

DURANT — Hello again, everybody! Some battles at the State Capitol are over quickly; others continue, waiting on political leadership to catch up with public opinion.

The struggle to provide health insurance coverage to children with autism is one of those battles that will continue. Finding a way to help these children and their families is one of the issues to which I have devoted much effort.

For me, this struggle is a moral issue. My continued work on this is borne from my commitment to strengthen families and help ensure that every Oklahoma child has a chance to reach their God-given potential.

We are still waiting on the political leadership to catch up with public opinion. On the second night of last year’s legislative session, leaders in the House of Representatives killed the bill known as “Nick’s Law.” After that family-unfriendly vote, the leader of that committee proudly stood before the television cameras and said “Nick’s Law” was dead for two years.

Their hope was that the bill, and those families who support it, would simply go away. There have been few political miscalculations as off-base as was that one. Those of us committed to families continued the struggle throughout the session. We won a few battles in the Senate, but House leaders continued to turn their back on these families and their precious children.

Now, almost five months after the legislative session ended, those of us carrying this banner got another boost. Despite the reluctance of some legislators to acknowledge the importance of this issue, the nonpartisan Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) has once again put autism insurance on its list of legislative priorities.

This group, which always has been a strong voice for Oklahoma’s children, made the decision during its fall legislative forum. At that two-day event, child advocates gathered from across the state to determine what OICA’s focus should be in 2010.

Republican and Democratic legislators addressed different panels on a host of issues. The child advocates were from every corner of the state and members of both political parties. This was as nonpartisan as you could get.

When the only question was “What is best for the children?” the answer was clear. Finding a way to help families pay for the expensive therapies necessary to give children with autism a chance at a full and happy life is – and should be – a top legislative priority for our state, regardless of partisan political considerations.

This is an issue both political parties have embraced in other states; in some states, the charge was led by Republicans. Oklahoma children deserve that same bipartisan support, and I will continue working to that end.

As always, if you have comments, questions or concerns about state government, send me a message through my website at www.gumm.us. You can also follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jpgumm and on Twitter at twitter.com/jpgumm.

Thanks again for reading the “Senate Minute.” Have a great week, and may God bless you all.

Gumm: Texas’ Continued Advancements in Autism Coverage Present Somber Comparison

Gumm: Texas’ Continued Advancements in Autism Coverage Present Somber Comparison

As Texas families this week celebrate the signing of legislation expanding the age of mandatory insurance coverage for children with autism, Sen. Jay Paul Gumm said Oklahoma families struggling to care for autistic children deserve better from their state Legislature.

Texas’ new law expands the age of mandatory insurance coverage for children with autism from the time of diagnosis to their 10th birthday. Gumm noted that Texas’ legislation was approved by a majority Republican Legislature and signed by a Republican governor.

“This shouldn’t be a partisan issue – our focus must be on improving quality of life for children with autism and helping families bear the cost of treatment,” said Gumm, D-Durant. “Now that we’ve seen other states effectively deal with this issue, it’s time for the Oklahoma Legislature to do what’s right for our families. We need to step forward and approve meaningful legislation that positively affects the lives of families struggling to care for autistic children.”

Gumm was the author of “Nick’s Law”, which would have required insurance companies to cover diagnosis and treatment of autism in children. Gumm also authored a proposal to require the Oklahoma Health Insurance High Risk Pool to cover treatment for autism, but both proposals were shelved in the 2009 session.

“Oklahoma and Texas are both conservative states, but we’re moving in opposite directions on this particular issue,” Gumm said. “It suggests that Texas leaders understand the importance of assisting families in need and that an honest examination of the plan’s potential risks has revealed it to be a prudent and morally sound proposal. 'Family values' must be more than a couple of words politicians use at election time; those words must reflect a commitment to policies that truly value families - including those families who have children with autism.”

For more information contact:
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm: 405-521-5586

Wayne Rohde: A father with a cause

Norman Transcript

By M. Scott Carter

June 13, 2009 01:33 am

— Transcript Staff Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Wayne Rohde didn't want this.

A self-described conservative Republican, Rohde and his wife, Robyne, came to Oklahoma about 10 years ago to be near Robyne's parents.
That was in 1999.

A short time later, Robyne gave birth to fraternal twins, Austin and Nick. Austin was born at 28.5 weeks; Nick was born at 30 weeks. And, like many other parents, Wayne and Robyne were busy with life and raising their boys.

"The boys were born in October, and they came home in December," Wayne said. "And it took them a while to catch up developmentally."
Things rocked along OK until Nick was about 20 months old.
"Then Nick hit a wall," Wayne said.

The pediatrician told them not to worry.
"We noticed that Nick couldn't eat crackers, or play with toys correctly," Wayne said. "We got concerned. The pediatrician said he'd be fine, he was just slow catching up."

The pediatrician was wrong.

Nick's development seemed to stop. And Wayne and his wife began a frantic search to find out what was wrong. Eventually, after more than a year, they would discover that Nick suffered from autism.

"I took over a year to make an appointment to see a therapist," he said. "If that would have been down to a month, chances are we could have recovered."
That diagnosis changed their lives.

"My wife wouldn't even say 'autism,'" Wayne said. "She called it the 'a-word.' And I had no idea what that meant. No one knew. We'd never went through anything like this before."

Because Nick's treatment was delayed, Rohde said, his recovery is much slower. "By delaying the diagnosis and treatment, well, one day is bad, but one year is horrible."

Rohde said it took so long to discover Nick's problem because there were no qualified professionals in Oklahoma. "Screening is one thing, but getting the proper diagnosis can take a long time."

There was little information available, he said.

"We were given two things, a copied piece of paper about autism and a prescription for Ritalin. That's modern medicine, 'There's a pill for that.'"

Then came the medical bills -- huge medical bills.

Bills that Wayne's medical insurance wouldn't pay.

Rhode estimates his family pays more than $5,000 a month to treat Nick.

"We got denial after denial," he said. "And, I guess it was at that point that I got mad as hell."

And it was at that point that Wayne Rohde changed from conservative businessman and father to hard-core political activist.

First he put his fist through a wall.

"The insurance companies were telling us 'no,' the banks were beating on our door. We were gonna loose the roof over our head. The car company was going, 'hey, we're sorry but where's our money?' It was more than I could take."

After his initial expression of rage, Wayne Rohde did something different -- he became an activist.

He and his wife surrounded themselves in research about autism coverage and he began approaching members of the state Legislature about changing state law to compel insurance companies to cover autism treatment.

"I kept asking why the insurance company won't pay," he said. "We're paying them thousands of dollars each month and they're not covering Nick. What's the deal?" Rohde continued his questions, then formed connections with parents across the country who had similar problems.

"I found families in other states," he said. "Loose networks of people."
Slowly, the groups made progress. Several years ago, Indiana was the first state in the country to require autism coverage, then in 2007, a similar bill in Texas became law.

"That gave me the green light," Wayne said.

Just like his son, Wayne hit a brick wall, too.

After convincing his brother to front him the money for plane tickets, Wayne traveled to other states as they conducted legislative hearings on autism coverage. He gathered data and information, then he traveled to 23rd and Lincoln.

"I spent six months visiting with legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle," he said. And while he found some lawmakers who would listen, Rohde said the state's Republican leaders flatly told him no. "The state GOP said 'no.' They said insurance rates would go up. I said that's disingenuous."

Putting his family life -- and his software company -- on hold, Rohde eventually would team with Durant Democratic state Senator J. Paul Gumm to develop Nick's Law, a legislative proposal that would require insurance companies in Oklahoma to cover autism treatment.

"I visited with Senator Gumm. He and his wife had just had a baby and his wife just happened to be researching autism," Wayne said. "The stars lined up and we took off."
Rohde, Gumm and others began their fight to pass Nick's Law. They started in 2007 and didn't expect to get very far.

"I knew that first year we would have to educate people," he said. "And I didn't expect the bill to pass."

The Legislature proved him right.

While Nick's Law generated a great deal of public debate -- and media coverage -- the measure failed to clear the House of Representatives.

But Wayne Rohde refused to give up.

After their initial political battle, Rohde and Gumm tried again. And this time, things got ugly. Instead of a debate about the issue, Rohde said Republican lawmakers turned rude and defensive.

"We did get further than people thought we would," he said. "And we got a lot of people interested."

And, in a strange twist of fate, one GOP critic helped in that effort.
Rohde said when state Rep. Ron Peterson slammed the door in the faces of a group of 20 parents of autistic children, "people got pissed off."

"It was all because of Rep. Peterson," he said. "After he slammed the door on us a lot of people contacted us and said, 'Wait a minute, these people are parents up here.'"

With public pressure growing, Rohde said some GOP members began to fight back.
"They would get really mad when a group of us would go up there and walk the hall. Some lawmakers said they were too busy to talk. We stopped one, who told us to make an appointment with his assistant. We tried that and the assistant said the lawmaker was too busy, could we come back in the summer? But session would have been over."
And while Rohde said some members of the Legislature were concerned and did listen, he said some many legislative leaders were 'just downright rude.'

"Rep. Gus Blackwell got really pissed off when I brought 20 parents into his office and two television stations," he said. "He was furious." Rohde had the same criticism for Edmond state Sen. Clark Jolley.

"Senator Jolley sent out e-mails saying I was unprofessional and not courteous," he said. "Well I say 'bite me, Senator, you're up here to represent your people and you won't even allow them to come into your office and talk to you, so bite me."

Later, Jolley would tell the Edmond Sun that Rohde's effort was "the greatest effort anybody has made to educate the Legislature about autism."

"There's a lot of education that will need to happen," he said. However, Jolley said he was "concerned" about forcing mandates on insurance companies as required by Nick's Law. "When asking for an insurance mandate, it's asking for coverage for something that not everybody needs," Jolley told the newspaper. "And you're asking for everybody else to bear the cost of it, and that's what universal health care is."
Jolley said in providing coverage for autism and other expensive health-care issues that may not be provided for by insurance companies, he would want to look at expanding pools of insurance, providing increased incentives for medical savings accounts and other options prior to having to enact a mandate.

"I would rather see us provide greater medical savings accounts," he said.

Rohde said Jolley was simply speaking for the insurance companies.

"I have come to understand that the Oklahoma Legislature isn't set up for the public good. It isn't set up for public input as other states are. In other states, they actually have committee hearings. But the Oklahoma Legislature isn't set up that way. All the outcomes have been predetermined."

Legislative leaders, he said, prevented Gumm and other supporters of Nick's Law from bringing in data and expert witnesses to testify at committee hearings.

"It's all set up for the lobbyists, because they are the only ones who can afford to be up here every day," he said. "Sure parents might come up here once in a while but they don't have a clue to what's going on. The GOP has dug in their heels on this issue."

During one meeting, Rohde said members of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee told him to move to a different state if he wanted better coverage.
"I was told to do that be the OCPAC," he said. "But we're not going to. We don't want to move away from our family. We're not going to punish our kids by moving."

Still, while Rhode hasn't gotten Nick's Law passed yet, he has been a driving force in educating the public about autism -- a complex developmental disability that typically appears in children before age 3, according to the Autism Society of America.

"It's a complex neurobiological disorder. It impacts areas of the brain responsible for social interaction and communication skills," Rohde said.

In fact, this weekend, the Defeat Autism Now conference is taking place at Norman. And though Rohde said he won't be able to make all of the two day event, he did plan on sitting in on several sessions.

And, he added, he'll continue his fight.

"I'm not giving up. Right now 13 states have passed an autism mandate. It's only a matter of time. I don't mind the fight. I'll step into the damn arena, because I know I'm on the right side."

M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscript.com

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 Bill Only “Relieves Political Pressure” – Senator Gumm

The State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF SENATOR JAY PAUL GUMM
Atoka, Bryan, Coal, Johnston & Marshall Counties

May 5, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Senator Jay Paul Gumm


State Capitol: (405) 521-5586
Durant Office: (580) 924-2221
Mobile: (580) 920-6990

Autism Bill Only “Relieves Political Pressure” – Senator Gumm

OKLAHOMA CITY – Following is a statement by Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, author of “Nick’s Law” relating to the enactment of Senate Bill 135:

“Sadly, this bill will do nothing to relieve the pressure on families struggling to care for children with autism. The measure was designed to relieve political pressure on legislators who refuse to even consider ‘Nick’s Law,’ which would require health insurance to cover diagnosis and treatment of autism.

“There is nothing wrong with this bill, just like there is nothing wrong with a pack of shingles at a construction site. If you try to put the shingles on before you pour the foundation, you are doomed to failure. As Governor Henry wisely noted when he signed the bill, the foundation is insurance coverage of autism. Absent that, Senate Bill 135 is doomed to failure.

“The therapists that will be trained under this bill will be unable to make a living in Oklahoma because families still will be unable to afford the applied behavioral analysis therapies they offer – just as they are today. The reason is that there is nothing in Senate Bill 135 that would even remotely help families bear the cost of this critical treatment.

“More than one child per day in Oklahoma is being diagnosed with autism. That means more than one child per day is being lost because they are ‘aging out,’ getting too old for the therapies to reach. Again, this bill does nothing to help those children to day.

“For anyone to suggest that ‘relief is on the way,’ is simply not consistent with the bill. Statements like that are irresponsible and provide only the falsest of hopes to families who are begging lawmakers for real help. Families deserve better than the sham being perpetrated on them by legislators who have neither the courage nor willingness to support ‘Nick’s Law.’”

Unhealthy view: Demonizing risk firms gets absurd

The Oklahoman Editorial
Published: April 26, 2009

Make no mistake: The goal of the most extreme members of the Legislature is not to reform health care but to remake it, to create a system like those found in Europe that have been "reformed” to the point of forcing people to wait months for procedures that most Americans can get in days.

The demonization of private insurers has reached an absurd level. State Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, a man with a history of moderation, now calls the insurance industry perverted. Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, a man rejected by 61 percent of Oklahoma voters in his bid for the U.S. Senate, demands more regulation of the industry.

Playing to populist instincts has a storied history in Oklahoma. Our constitution is practically a shrine to populism. And most of us have had an unpleasant experience with an insurance company at one time or another.

Yet most of us don’t believe government should control every aspect of the industry simply because we don’t always get our way.

Insurance is a business. Insurers are required to maintain solvency or they’re forced by the state into receivership. Coverage schemes are designed to maintain solvency. Piling on coverage mandates, as Gumm and Rice are keen to do, means higher premiums for all of us. For some of us, this means premiums pass the point of affordability.

Of course this can be "fixed” with government health care, the cost of which won’t be optional and the delivery of which won’t be efficient.

click here to post an online comment of this article.

Oklahoma Senate backs off autism coverage

By The Associated Press
Published: April 21, 2009

link to article.

The Oklahoma Senate has backed off an amendment to a House bill to require the Oklahoma High Risk Health Insurance Pool to cover autism spectrum disorders.

Instead, the Senate voted Tuesday to adopt a House a proposal for licensing and training programs for autism therapists.

That bill returns to the House, which is expected to pass it and send it to the governor.

Last week, the Senate adopted an amendment requiring the high risk pool to cover autism treatment up to $36,000.

Sen. John Gumm said his amendment was a good compromise to mandating that private insurance companies cover autism. He says the House plan will do nothing to help families pay for autism treatment.

Autism coverage in Oklahoma stripped from bill

Lawmaker says families will suffer

BY JULIE BISBEE
The Oklahoman
Published: April 22, 2009

Click here to link to article.

An amendment to a bill that would have offered insurance to children with autism has been deleted, dashing the hopes of advocates who had been lobbying for the idea.

Last week, the Senate unanimously approved an amendment to a House bill that would include coverage for children under the Oklahoma Health Insurance High Risk Pool.

The pool was created by the Legislature in 1995 to provide insurance to residents unable to get individual coverage. Participants still pay a premium.

Two bills, one from the House and one from the Senate, sought to create a state license for certified behavior analysts and increase training for therapists who would evaluate and diagnose autism-spectrum disorders.

Because there were two versions of the bill, it went to conference committee of House and Senate members. When the bill was sent back to the Senate for approval, an amendment to offer insurance was removed.

"What the Senate did is just flat wrong,” Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, said after the vote.

Gumm, who has pushed for health insurance coverage for children with autism in a bill dubbed "Nick’s Law,” said without insurance, many families won’t be able to afford treatment from the newly certified therapists.

"This bill has done nothing to ease the pressure on the families,” Gumm said. "This bill is for folks who stood up and said ‘absolutely not’ to Nick’s Law to be able to say, ‘I did something.’”

Sen. Ron Justice, the Senate author of the bill, said the measure begins to address treatment of autism in Oklahoma.

The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 40-6.

Amendment Would Require OHRP Cover Autism

NewsChannel 8 - Amendment Would Require OHRP Cover Autism

Oklahoma City - A state Senate amendment to House Bill 2027 would require a state-run insurance safety net to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism.

The amendment was filed by Durant Senator Jay Paul Gumm, who originally sponsored autism insurance legislation, known as "Nick's Law". It would require the Oklahoma Health Insurance High Risk Pool (OHRP) to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism.

The amendment was attached to a House bill that seeks to train more therapists to evaluate and diagnose the disorder.

The OHRP was created by the state legislature in 1995 to provide access to health insurance coverage to all residents of the state who are unable to obtain individual health insurance.

"The High Risk Pool was designed to be the insurer of last resort," said Gumm. "It seems to be a perfect compromise between those who oppose a mandate on all insurance companies and those of us who support ending insurance discrimination against children with autism."

The bill which included Gumm's amendment, passed the Senate by a unanimous 48-0 vote. It will now go before a conference committee, where a final version of the bill will be developed.