Son of a bitch.
Okay, when I wrote yesterday's entry, I missed this story in the Chronicle (thanks to Chuck for the link). Turns out the rumors about the TAB pressuring Perry for a veto weren't rumors after all:
Parents of children with autism cheered when Texas lawmakers revived a dead bill they say will give families hope, save some from bankruptcy and reduce long-term costs for taxpayers.
But the Texas Association of Business wants Gov. Rick Perry to veto House Bill 1919 because of an amendment that changes the definition of autism from a mental illness to a neurobiological illness and requires insurance companies to cover treatment for 3- to 5-year-olds with the disease.
The autism-insurance measure passed the Senate but languished in the House until lawmakers approved it as an amendment to insurance-related legislation just hours before the legislative session ended May 28.
[...]
Perry spokesman Robert Black said the governor and his staff have not decided whether to veto the bill."It's not about autism. It's not about brain injuries. It's not about cervical cancer," said the TAB's Shelton Green. "We want to avoid placing mandates on employers, on their health-benefit policies."
Such requirements increase costs for employers who already struggle with annual insurance-premium increases, he said.
"We want to leave the discretion up to the employers and let them decide what health plans (to provide) and not the state," he said.
I can't believe Green said that with a straight face. If such things were "left to the discretion of employers," the only thing mandated for insurance coverage would be care for heart disease and prostate cancer. Oh, and maternity leave wouldn't be paid, I could still slap my administrative assistant on the ass, and the only black co-workers I'd have would be ones washing the dishes in the cafeteria.
The reason the bill changed the definition to "neurobiological illness" is because that's what recent research is saying. More and more studies are coming out about showing evidence of damage to the autistic person's limbic system and cerebellum, and of neurochemical dysfunctions. It's also because insurance companies tend to offer nothing but the bare minimum of coverage to so-called "mental illnesses." Sorry, but 12 speech therapy appointments a year isn't going to cover it.
1 in 150: that's the current estimated rate of occurrence of autism in the U.S. The Shelton Greens and Larry Taylors of this state need to wake the hell up and realize insurance coverage for kids 3-5 is a pittance compared to what this state and others will be spending decades down the road. When Green is long gone and the autistic children of today have become adults that require full-time care because their parents couldn't afford therapy, send his estate the tab.
Or better yet, please call ((800) 252-9600) or e-mail Governor Perry and ask him to sign HB 1919. And please pass the word, it means so much to so many families.
UPDATE: Big surprise, before Shelton Green was the TAB's Governmental Affairs Manager, he was Chief of Staff to...you guessed it...Representative Larry Taylor. I'm sure the industry's bagman on the Insurance Committee is proud his protege is taking up the fight.
I just sent the following. I only hope it and a ton more like it will be heard and can do some good.
Governor Perry,
I urge you to please sign HB 1919 into law, and not veto the bill. Please do not bend to the short-sighted will of those who oppose this bill. In addition to the incalculable benefit to children with autism that this bill provides, it is also in the long-term financial interests of the State to provide for this treatment. It is much cheaper to provide for treatment as a child than it is to provide support for the rest of the adult’s life. In this case an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.
Thank you.
There is a rumor that Perry has already vetoed HB 1919. However, I just called the governor’s office, and spoke to his staffer Lance. Lance told me that as far as he knew the bill is still on Perry’s desk. I then registered a recommendation for him to sign the bill, and told him that my son has PDD-NOS.
mother fucker