Legislative Information
The autism insurance reform bills have passed!!! Effective 10/18/12, children with autism will now have necessary treatment paid for by their insurance carriers!! For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/autism.
Autism Reform Legislation has been introduced for the 2011-2012 legislative session. Please keep checking back for information and to find out how you can support this very necessary, forward step for Michigan!
Check out the bill introduced this month by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, which will absorb the costs incurred by businesses if the autism insurance reform legislation is passed.
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
A Senate Health Policy Committee Hearing is schedule for Thursday, March 1st! Things are moving and shaking in Lansing and WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. Please come if you are able. Please click here for more information.
Find out why its so important to support this legislation here.
Please contact your legislator and let them know why immediate passage of these bills is vital to Michigan’s families! You are not limited to contacting your own legislator!!
Find Your Senator
Find Your Representative
Please consider writing to your legislator. Here is a letter for you to print, sign and send.
General Information About the Legislation/What to Say to Your Legislator
Q and A for Meetings with Your Legislators
Advocacy Talking Points to Use with Legislators
Michigan Autism Insurance Coalition Presentation from 03/01/11 Meeting
Autism Insurance Legislation in the News
Autism Mandate May Show Up In Budget (Gongwer Report)
There was word around town Monday that Governor Rick Snyder will propose an appropriation for his proposal mandating that insurance companies cover treatments for autism.
Mr. Snyder is set to give his fiscal year 2012-13 budget presentation Thursday along with Lt. Governor Brian Calley and State Budget Director John Nixon. The officials are also slated to discuss a supplemental spending plan for the current fiscal year, which would tap into some of the expected revenue surplus.
It does not appear the autism appropriation would come in the supplemental, but it could be proposed as part of the upcoming budget. Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they did not know how the appropriation would be processed to cover the autism mandate.
But a direct appropriation would appear to be a reversal from comments made by Mr. Calley last month that the administration backs a tax credit on the medical claims tax for insurance companies to cover the treatments.
Business groups have publicly rejected the idea of tacking an autism credit onto the claims tax. The other problem that proposal faced is that the claims tax sunsets in 2014.
An autism insurance mandate has been introduced, but the administration has been working with lawmakers on the tax credit proposal, which has remained in flux.
However, going the appropriations route is in line with how Mr. Snyder changed the state’s economic development and film incentives from tax credits to direct appropriations.
Geralyn Lasher, spokesperson for Mr. Snyder, would not comment on the issue, reiterating the three officials are set to present the budget later this week.
Administration Backing Claims Tax Credit for Autism Mandate
Autism Legislation in Michigan Could Gain Momentum in 2012
Autism Insurance Reform Legislation Introduced
Autism Speaks Endorses Michigan Autism Insurance Reform Bills
Yes, Insurance Should Cover Autism-Wall Street Journal