Nice Coverage in Spartanburg Paper

Insurers soon required to cover tots' treatment

ASHLEI N. STEVENS,
Staff Writer
Published June 25, 2007

Brady Verett is all smiles and giggles as he reads the words "girl," "star" and "pig," matching the written words with pictures.

The bubbly blond also has learned to write his name, he's potty-trained and is learning to dress and feed himself.

While these seem like typical tasks for a 3 1/2-year-old to handle, they are chores Brady might not be able to complete without the aid of special therapy, called applied behavioral analysis. He was diagnosed a year ago with autism, a neurobiological disorder that affects the ability to communicate and adapt to change. It usually lasts throughout a person's lifetime.

Research has shown that ABA therapy is the most effective for children such as Brady, teaching them basic language, sorting and identification concepts.

The results of ABA are positive, parents say, but the effects on the wallet are straining. Brady has 30 hours of therapy each week, and for most families, the cost ranges from $30,000 to $75,000 a year.

"There are some families that can afford that, but most middle-class folks cannot," said Brady's mother, Montie. "There are some families that go without the services because they can't afford it."

Relief is coming to families like the Veretts. A law passed earlier this month, known as Ryan's Law, will require private insurance companies, beginning July 1, 2008, to cover children with autism and related therapies, providing up to $50,000 a year for children ages 16 and younger. That's money that no longer will have to come directly out of the pockets of families with autistic children.

"Families and children will have opportunities they never had before, and kids will get treatment they never had before," said Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Columbia, an avid supporter of Ryan's Law and one of the bill's sponsors. "In many cases, we've provided not only treatment, but hope, for thousands of children."

'Ryan's Grassroots Gang'
Ryan's Law was prompted by a Charleston mother and lawyer, Lorri Unumb. Her 6-year-old son, Ryan, is severely autistic.

Lorri and her husband are both lawyers who can afford the therapy costs. But it's still so expensive that they sold their house to move into a smaller home to cover costs.

"The average family income in South Carolina is $40,000," Unumb said. "If you're an average family trying to provide this therapy for your child, forget it."

In May 2005, as a professor at the Charleston School of Law, Unumb began researching insurance policies in other states that covered autism, and she decided to spearhead a movement in South Carolina. Hundreds of parents rallied together as "Ryan's Grassroots Gang," pushing for the bill to become law.

Their efforts proved successful in 2006, although the law that passed didn't match the original intent that Unumb and her team wanted. That law created a Pervasive Developmental Disorder program offered through the S.C. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, which essentially provided public funds for autistic children whether they were Medicaid eligible or not.

Nearly 400 families applied for the P.D.D. program this year, and currently 130 children are being served with $3 million appropriated by the Legislature. Now, another 220 children are anticipated to be served with an additional $4.5 million in continuing funds. That would allow about 350 children to receive these vital intervention therapies. Each child is limited to three years in the program, which then would allow new children to be served.

Up to $50,000 coverage
Ryan's Law requires coverage for medium and large companies and state employees. Many small companies, including those that are self-insured, will not receive coverage unless they adapt their plans, Lourie said. Families can get up to $50,000 a year in coverage, and that amount will increase by the rate of inflation.

"The cost of treatment, and whatever minor impact it has on insurance premiums, is significantly lower than the cost of children who weren't treated early or who may be candidates for institutionalization," Lourie said.

So, having a public-private partnership is ideal, advocates say.

"New kids are diagnosed every day," Unumb said. "There have been a couple of dozen children diagnosed since Ryan's Law passed, so the outreach needs to be continuing."

There are 20,000 individuals with autism in the Palmetto State and roughly 377 new cases are diagnosed in children each year, according to Craig Stoxen, president and CEO of the South Carolina Autism Society. His organization has offered family support, information and referral services for 35 years.

ABA therapy has been "the most-proven effective behavioral therapy we know of" for autistic children, Stoxen said. It's been around for about 40 years, and it's most effective for children between ages 3 and 5. Forty-seven percent of kids who get early ABA therapy will be mainstreamed into "regular" classrooms in first grade, Stoxen said.

"The earlier you get it, the better they do," said Verett, who added that Brady could only retain a few words before he began therapy in January. "I don't know where Brady would be without it."

A handful of other states have similar legislation, including Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Colorado, Stoxen said, and 27 states had bills introduced this year addressing the same issue. The ultimate goal, Stoxen said, is that insurance coverage for autism becomes a federal mandate.

"It really is a financial hardship," Stoxen said, "so a lot of kids who need the service get very limited service. Or even worse, they get nothing at all."

The Verett family was fortunate enough to be among the 130 families now under the P.D.D. program. When it ends for them in three years, they hope insurance will pick up the costs.
Brady's speech and vocabulary have expanded, and he won the "Outstanding Effort Award" in his special education class at Oakland Elementary last year.

"I'm just amazed at what God has done," Verett said. "Brady would not be where he is if we were not in South Carolina."

One Week Later

Lawmakers mandate autism coverage
General Assembly sends strong message of support for disabled children by overriding governor's veto

Published: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 2:00 am

State lawmakers recently handed Gov. Mark Sanford a dramatic defeat by voting unanimously to override the governor's veto of a bill requiring private insurance coverage for autistic children. Lawmakers were right to do so.

Autism, a disease that can severely impair a young person's ability to communicate, form relationships and adapt to change, was the only neurological disorder not required to be covered by private insurance in South Carolina. The law will require insurance to pay for treatment for children, age 16 and under, up to a maximum of $50,000 a year beginning in July 2008.

Sanford, in his veto message, raised legitimate concerns about the autism mandate increasing the cost of insurance for everyone else. He said the law would add $10.5 million in costs to the State Health Plan next year and about $48 annually to private insurance premiums paid by South Carolina families.

But state lawmakers argued rightly that the state may save millions by investing in early intervention. An autistic child who receives insufficient treatment sometimes can end up being cared for in an institution at taxpayer expense. That can cost the state $4 million to $7 million for each patient. Intensive early therapy, however, can do wonders for some autistic children. Advocates say that about half of children who get at least 40 hours of therapy a week can enter the first grade on time. Another 40 percent make considerable progress.

That therapy, however, can cost up to $75,000 a year, putting it out of reach of many families with autistic children. Advocates say families across this state are forced to get second mortgages on their homes or face bankruptcy trying to provide the intervention their children need. Or they face the heart-wrenching experience of placing their children in group homes or institutions -- although there's often a 15-year waiting list for such institutions.

In his veto message, Sanford reiterated his support for Health Savings Accounts and the ability of the market to create "better products and services." Many South Carolinians no doubt agree in principle with Sanford when he extols the free market, but it's hard to see how health savings accounts can help a family faced with therapy costing up to $75,000 a year.

Even as he was vetoing the bill, Sanford said: "My prayers go out to any family afflicted with any of these (autistic spectrum) disorders." Given that sentiment, it's unfortunate Sanford was unable to follow the lead of state lawmakers in approving the bill. At least 17 other states require insurance coverage for autistic children. South Carolina appropriately will join those states in providing a better life for autistic children.

The text of Ryan's Law

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-71-280 SO AS TO REQUIRE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE, INCLUDING COVERAGE UNDER THE STATE HEALTH PLAN, FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND TO DEFINE "AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER" AS AUTISTIC DISORDER, ASPERGER'S SYNDROME, AND NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Coverage required for autism spectrum disorder

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 71, Title 38 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 38-71-280.

(A) As used in this section:

(1) 'Autism spectrum disorder' means one of the three following disorders as defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association:

(a) Autistic Disorder;
(b) Asperger's Syndrome;
(c) Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified.

(2) 'Insurer' means an insurance company, a health maintenance organization, and any other entity providing health insurance coverage, as defined in Section 38-71-670(6), which is licensed to engage in the business of insurance in this State and which is subject to state insurance regulation.

(3) 'Health maintenance organization' means an organization as defined in Section 38-33-20(8).

(4) 'Health insurance plan' means a group health insurance policy or group health benefit plan offered by an insurer. It includes the State Health Plan, but does not otherwise include any health insurance plan offered in the individual market as defined in Section 38-71-670(11), any health insurance plan that is individually underwritten, or any health insurance plan provided to a small employer, as defined by Section 38-71-1330(17) of the 1976 Code.

(5) 'State Health Plan' means the employee and retiree insurance program provided for in Article 5, Chapter 11, Title 1.

(B) A health insurance plan as defined in this section must provide coverage for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Coverage provided under this section is limited to treatment that is prescribed by the insured's treating medical doctor in accordance with a treatment plan. With regards to a health insurance plan as defined in this section an insurer may not deny or refuse to issue coverage on, refuse to contract with, or refuse to renew or refuse to reissue or otherwise terminate or restrict coverage on an individual solely because the individual is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

(C) The coverage required pursuant to subsection (B) must not be subject to dollar limits, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions that are less favorable to an insured than the dollar limits, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions that apply to physical illness generally under the health insurance plan, except as otherwise provided for in subsection (E). However, the coverage required pursuant to subsection (B) may be subject to other general exclusions and limitations of the health insurance plan, including, but not limited to, coordination of benefits, participating provider requirements, restrictions on services provided by family or household members, utilization review of health care services including review of medical necessity, case management, and other managed care provisions.

(D) The treatment plan required pursuant to subsection (B) must include all elements necessary for the health insurance plan to appropriately pay claims. These elements include, but are not limited to, a diagnosis, proposed treatment by type, frequency, and duration of treatment, the anticipated outcomes stated as goals, the frequency by which the treatment plan will be updated, and the treating medical doctor's signature. The health insurance plan may only request an updated treatment plan once every six months from the treating medical doctor to review medical necessity, unless the health insurance plan and the treating medical doctor agree that a more frequent review is necessary due to emerging clinical circumstances.

(E) To be eligible for benefits and coverage under this section, an individual must be diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder at age eight or younger. The benefits and coverage provided pursuant to this section must be provided to any eligible person under sixteen years of age. Coverage for behavioral therapy is subject to a fifty thousand dollar maximum benefit per year. Beginning one year after the effective date of this act, this maximum benefit shall be adjusted annually on January 1 of each calendar year to reflect any change from the previous year in the current Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers, as published by the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2008, and applies to health insurance plans issued, renewed, delivered, or entered into on or after this act's effective date.

From the official South Carolina legislative website

Make sure you read the last couple of entries. They're my favorites.

Session 117 - (2007-2008)

S*0020 (Rat #0085) General Bill, By Elliott, Mescher, Cleary, Hutto, Lourie,
Moore, Sheheen, Reese, Knotts, Leventis, Land, McGill, Rankin, Campsen, Grooms,
Hawkins, Short and Scott

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-71-280 SO AS TO REQUIRE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE, INCLUDING COVERAGE UNDER THE STATE HEALTH PLAN, FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND TO DEFINE "AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER" AS AUTISTIC DISORDER, ASPERGER'S SYNDROME, AND NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER. - ratified title

11/29/06 Senate Prefiled
11/29/06 Senate Referred to Committee on Banking and Insurance
01/09/07 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-35
01/09/07 Senate Referred to Committee on Banking and Insurance SJ-35
03/15/07 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Banking and Insurance SJ-8
03/19/07 Scrivener's error corrected
04/26/07 Senate Committee Amendment Tabled SJ-18
04/26/07 Senate Amended SJ-18
04/26/07 Senate Read second time SJ-18
04/26/07 Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
legislative day SJ-18
04/27/07 Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-1
04/27/07 Scrivener's error corrected
05/01/07 House Introduced and read first time HJ-6
05/01/07 House Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
Industry HJ-6
05/23/07 House Committee report: Favorable Labor, Commerce and
Industry HJ-7
05/24/07 House Read second time HJ-28
05/24/07 House Unanimous consent for third reading on next
legislative day HJ-29
05/25/07 House Read third time and enrolled
05/31/07 Ratified R 85
06/06/07 Vetoed by Governor
06/07/07 Senate Veto overridden by originating body Yeas-43 Nays-0
06/07/07 House Veto overridden Yeas-114 Nays-0

The Greenville News

Lawmakers restore coverage for autistic kids
House, Senate unanimously override Sanford veto of bill requiring insurance for disorder

Published: Friday, June 8, 2007 - 2:00 am
By Liv Osby
HEALTH WRITER
http://www.webmail.bellsouth.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=losby@greenvillenews.com

The South Carolina House stood and applauded Thursday after voting 114-0 to override Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of a bill requiring insurance coverage for autistic children.

Earlier, the Senate voted to override as well, and advocates called it "a momentous day" for children with autism and their families.

"I'm just so pleased that our General Assembly voted to override the governor's veto," said Marcella Ridley, a Columbia mother of an autistic child. "It took away all the nightmares of the last 24 hours."

"How often has there been a unanimous override in the House and the Senate?" said Dr. Desmond Kelly, medical director of developmental-behavioral pediatrics at Greenville Hospital System's Children's Hospital. "The legislators were clear in their support, and that's great."

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said the Legislature exercised its prerogative.

"We laid out our reasons for vetoing the bill and felt they were compelling," he said. "Obviously, the Legislature disagreed. But that's the nature of the process."

Autism is a spectrum of developmental disorders that afflicts about 1.5 million Americans, about 9,000 of them in the Palmetto State. Intensive early intervention helps roughly half of all autistic children succeed in school and hold down jobs as adults, avoiding more costly special education classes and institutions.

Since it can cost more than $50,000 a year, many families can't afford it or go into debt to finance it. But beginning in July 2008, insurance will be required to pay for up to $50,000 a year of the therapy for children under 16.

In his veto message, Sanford said the mandate would raise the quality of insurance for families with autistic children, "but doing so would correspondingly increase the cost, and consequently lower the access to health insurance, for many other families across our state."

Sanford said the bill would add $10.5 million in costs to the State Health Plan next year and about $48 a year to premiums paid by other families. But Sen. David Thomas, R-Greenville, said those numbers are too high and that the state stands to save millions that it spends on lifetime institutionalization of autistic adults by investing in early intervention.

"These folks are headed to institutionalization unless there's early intervention," Thomas said. "Just in terms of money, we're talking hundreds of millions of dollars that will be saved over time."

South Carolina Headlines

House overrides autism veto; bill now law

The House easily overrode Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of a bill Thursday extending insurance coverage to children with autism.The vote was 114-0.

After voting, House members turned toward the balcony and gave families representing children who have the disorder a standing ovation.

Before the vote, Rep. B.R. Skelton, R-Pickens, chastised the governor for striking down the measure.

"He has four healthy children and I don't think he has ever met anybody who didn't have healthy children," Skelton said.

The Senate had previously overrode the veto, also unanimously.

The governor' s office maintains the provision will raise health care costs.

South Carolinians Write to Governor About Ryan's Law

Governor Sanford,

I am writing in regards to "Ryans Law", to give insurance coverage across the state of South Carolina for children with Autism. This is a very important law and needs you to sign it to pass.

As a special education teacher, I have dealt with many families with Autistic children and have taught many autistic children. These families have so very much to deal with and truly need the support of insurance companies in order to best meet the needs of their very special children. It was in fact, an autistic child who made me want to become a special education teacher and change my major from music more than 10 years ago and I feel blessed for doing so.

Please sign the Autism Equality Act. It was passed unanimously by the house and
senate and now just needs your signature. Your signing this bill
would positively impact children, families, their friends and schools.

Again, please give these very special children your support and help them get all of the services that are rightfully theirs and should be covered by their insurance companies.

Thank you,

Shelley Hardin
Shelley E. Hardin, NBCT
Special Programs, Department Chair
Airport High School

Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. - M. Forbes

South Carolinians Write to Governor About Ryan's Law

Dear Governor Sanford:

I am writing to ask for your support of the Autism Equity Act (“Ryan’s Law”).

With proper medical intervention, studies show that almost 50% of autistic children improve to such an extent that they can enter mainstream classrooms unassisted after a few years of treatment. The progress that we make in therapy, particularly at very young ages, is catalytic. Our patients metamorph from frustrated, nonverbal, disconnected children to empowered, interactive kids. They still have autism, but the symptoms are certainly mitigated, potential for learning is much higher, and the families have regained their “babies”, who often turn out to be bright, humorous, tax payers.

Routine and consistency are the critical elements of success. However, often our efforts are confounded by insurance limits, caps, and exclusions. Imagine the devastation of a diagnosis of autism, then discovering that your policy has a $500 lifetime cap on language therapy. One of my current patients is only covered for the first sixty days of each year. Another child cannot obtain coverage for less than $600 per month due to “pre-existing condition”.

The parents are virtually disenfranchised by their own health system. They typically spend vast amounts of time and money procuring therapy that we know is effective, and risk financial instability in their efforts. After paying premiums and deductibles, this burden is patently unfair.

Today is the day. Please: help the children in South Carolina.

Sincerely,

Sally Asquith, MS, CCC-SLP
Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist

South Carolinians Write to Governor about Ryan's Law

Dear Governor Sanford,

My wife and I are the grandparents of a very smart and bright 8 year old with autism. We have seen the progress he has made thanks to ABA therapies. He continues to make progress but after this year, the money that my son has to pay for those therapies runs out.

He has been paying with the help of the entire family, $15,000 a year since our grandson was 3 for 20 hours a week of ABA. Our grandson should have been getting 40 hours a week.

The passage of Ryan's Law by the legislature has given hope to not only the continued progress of my grandson but to many other parents in SC who are struggling to provide this proven therapy for their children. Not only will your signing this law help children who have no other alternative to fight this disease but it also will save the tax payers of this state money by reducing the number of these children that would become wards of the state at tax payers expense.

Governor, my wife and I are in our 70's and have lived in this state all of our lives. We have worked hard to make a life for ourselves and our son and now we see him doing the same for his son with all that is in him. He is not asking for a handout, only for the help he needs to give his son the same opportunities that we have given him and that you want to give to your children.

As a father and a grandfather, I ask you to look deep into your own heart and ask yourself what you would do if your child were autistic and you had no other place to turn.

This bill is supported not only by the autism community but also by the insurance industry after the compromise was reached in the Senate. We ask that you support this bill for the benefit of all South Carolinians.

Kindest Regards,
Bob and Selma Howle

From WIS-TV in Columbia

Autism bill supporters holding out for governor's signature

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - One of the bills that is still hanging out there is one that advocates say would help autistic children. It has unanimous support in the House and the Senate. All it needs to become law is the governor's signature.

"I trust the governor will do the right thing. I believe that he will," says Marcella Ridley.

How did a stay-at-home mom from Columbia, end up doing television interviews - schmoozing with lawmakers, and waiting to see whether the governor will meet Wednesday's deadline to sign a bill into law?

Ridley says, "I never thought I'd be sitting here on June fourth - I didn't. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed in that."

People call Marcella Ridley, Lorri Unumb and Lisa Rowlings the angels for autism. For two years, the ladies have spearheaded the fight for legislation they believe will help autistic children their reasons are personal. Each of the ladies has an autistic child.

Marcella's little guy is named Winston, and the bill is actually named after Lorri's son Ryan.

"These are three moms on a mission," says Senator Joel Lourie. It's a mission the senator has spent a lot of time on. He says the bill would improve treatment options for kids with autism.

And while he says at first insurance companies were hesitant to cover the costs, now everyone has signed off on it, everyone except the governor.

When WIS called the governor's office to see why, a spokesman will only tell us that Governor Sanford is looking the bill over.

Obviously, everyone who supports the bill wants to see the governor sign it, but if the governor does veto the bill, that doesn't mean it's dead in the water.

Senator Lourie says, "If he were to veto the bill then we go to work immediately Thursday morning on overriding the veto and that would start in the Senate first."

The governor has until midnight Wednesday to make a decision. Ironically, Wednesday is Winston's seventh birthday.

Reported by Kara Gormley

South Carolinians Write to Governor About Ryan's Law

Dear Governor Sanford,

I am the parent of two boys, 8 and 5. While I would love to take your time to tell all about both of them, I’m compelled to tell you about my 8 year old, Wills, as he is autistic and Ryan’s Law is currently sitting on your desk awaiting your signature.

Wills was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2 ½. While both my wife and I were devasted with the diagnosis, we pursued every treatment option available. After extensive research and consultation we decided on ABA therapy. Due to the persistence and diligence of my wife, we were able to convince our insurance company to pay for this therapy, one of the very lucky few that have been able to do this. I’d like to tell you what this has enabled us and our son to do.

First, our son is a rising 3rd grader at Brennen Elementary in Richland County School District One. He was in a typical 1st and 2nd grade classroom, and will be in the AAP classes offered next year. He reads on a 6th grade level, does 6th grade level math, but most importantly, has friends. While we still struggle with emotional and social issues with Wills and continue to work with him on a daily basis, we count our blessings that he is, by all accounts, ‘normal’. All of this success was unexpected as he didn’t talk at 3 ½, was barely walking and had multiple self-stimulatory repetitive behaviors.

Second, it has allowed my wife and me to not have to mortgage our house to the hilt. We’ve been able to continue to pay property tax, shop and pay sales tax, and not have to request exorbitant state assistance to live.

Third, it has allowed the state to have what will be an extraordinary asset in Wills Bauer. He will be an incredible asset to this state once he grows up. He will not need extra help to live. He will make incredible contributions. He will earn a living and pay taxes. Were it not for the therapy he would most likely be institutionalized and be a very high economic burden to the state.

I implore you as a taxpayer to pass this bill. As you can see I have no direct interest or benefit. We’re done with the therapy, we’ve benefited from it, and now we’re on to the next stage in the development of an amazing little boy.

Thank you for your time and I hope the children and taxpayers of the state can count on you.

-Bill Bauer
Columbia, SC

South Carolinians Write to Governor About Ryan's Law

Dear Governor Sanford:

I ask that you please sign the Autism Bill. I am not a parent of a child with Autism. However, I strongly feel these children with autism should have the same access to healthcare coverage that my children have been so lucky to have.

In addition, it makes economic sense to cover the treatments now vs. paying for much more expensive care in the future. I also believe it is the moral thing to do as well.

Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,

Janice Mullin
Charleston, SC

South Carolinians Write to Governor About Ryan's Law

Dear Governor Sanford,

My name is Michael Bridgers and I live in Columbia. As a constituent and parent of two sons with autism, I urge you to allow the Ryan's law bill to become law in SC.

I am sure the insurance lobby is talking with your staff about this bill Please keep in mind that the final bill is a compromise that was reached with the insurance lobby prior to passage. The bill was widely supported by members of both parties in the Senate and House.

Autism is a national crisis - and must be treated the same as any other neurological disorder.

I am not an expert on the financials, but it makes sense to me that we should commit resources to children and improve their odds of developing into successful, contributing adults. That is my dream for my treasured sons.

I am sure you have seen the local and national media coverage regarding autism in the last year. Even today, WLTX will be filming a segment at Gymboree at 3:00 in Richland Fashion Mall for an upcoming national story. Gymboree has commissioned an exercise class for special needs children.

Please allow Ryan's Law to become SC Law.

Sincerely,
Michael Bridgers
Columbia, SC

South Carolinians Write to Governor About Ryan's Law

Dear Govenor Sandford,

I am a school nurse in this fine state of South Carolina and continue to see an increase in the number of student in public education with a diagnosis of autism. The effects of this disorder are felt by a multitude of SC families and the educational and health care professionals within the school setting.

The benefits of ABA Therapy have been proven to promote enormous gains to cognitive behavorial skills.

I have a personal involvement with this Spectrum Disorder by observing my great neice, who is fortune enough to have an insurance comapany with the vision and wisdom to provide coverage for a cutting edge treatment. It would be very sad to see others suffer because Ryan's Law did not make it off your desk.

Please be informed before you make such a life changiing decision for millions of innocent children. You have the power to make Ryan's Law happen.

Sincerely,
Sally Atkinson

South Carolinians Write To Governor About Ryan's Law

Dear Governor Sanford,

I am so blessed to have a six year old granddaughter with autism. Her father just returned from serving our country in Iraq. She has for the past year benefited from the ABA therapy. She and Ryan (Lorri Unumb's son) have the same ABA therapists. I know you have four sons. I truly hope that they were born normal and healthy. Please do not turn your back on those that are affected with this condition.

Ryan's Law is a compromise bill that the insurance industry has agreed to. Small group and individual policies are exempt. There are over 2000 children in South Carolina affected by autism. Either the insurance industry can help pay for autism now, or the taxpayers can pay $4 million per person later.

Haleigh has improved tremendously in the 12 months she has had ABA therapy. She is home schooled because the school system in Charleston could not or did not offer the help she needed. She has started talking, eating, and interacting with other people. When her father left for Iraq last June, she did not speak at all. Now, she is shocking us all with her improvement. We sent videos of her progress to her Daddy, and he was awed by her progress. They have had some help with the extensive cost of the therapy from Tricare, the only insurance company that pays anything at all for autism treatment. The cost of therapists run about $ 90,000 a year. Without Tricare coverage, they could not afford the ABA.

Please sign Ryan's Law. Show the people of South Carolina that you care about our children as you say you do.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Susan Thrasher
Bishopville, SC

South Carolinians Write to Governor About Ryan's Law

Dear Governor,

As the parents of a boy with autism, we ask that you allow Ryan's Law (the Autism Equity Act) to go forward, without a veto. Our son is severely delayed in speech and socialization.

Autism is a neurological disorder, which affects the parts of the brain that control language and joint-attention. We believe this neurological disorder should be covered under health insurance, just as strokes and other neurological disorders are covered. It's only right that our children get the treatment they need!

Our developmental pediatrician tells us that, with therapy, our son will likely go on to a regular elementary school with "normal" children, and could even excel academically. Without therapy, however, his progress would halt or regress, and he would never develop the language or other skills that are necessary to participate in a normal classroom, or the workforce, one day.

The children of our state deserve to share their talents with all of society, pay taxes, and contribute to our local economy -- instead of ending up becoming a burden on taxpayers.

Perhaps this realization is why several other states have passed similar legislation. By allowing Ryan's Law to go forward, you will not only help these children but will also help our state for years to come.

I (Elizabeth) talked to you one time in person about children with special needs. You convinced me that you really care about children with disabilities. This is your chance to show that you really do care about these children. Thank you, governor, for your time, and I hope we can count on you to help our children!

Sincerely,
Michael and Elizabeth Wright

South Carolinians Write to Governor About Ryan's Law

Dear Governor Sanford:

My 6-year old son was diagnosed with autism shortly after his 2nd birthday. Over the past 4 years, I have become very familiar with treatments options and insurance coverage issues. The attached editorial I wrote published in the Myrtle Beach Sun News several weeks ago explains these issues in more detail. This legislation is critically necessary for our children.

My son, who received the type of early-intervention intensive therapy and services this legislation would provide on a wide scale to children across our state, graduated from his typical Kindergarten class at Myrtle Beach Primary School this week and received honors as Outstanding Reader in his class (proud pic attached). I don't mean to suggest he is cured, there is no cure, he has a shadow and there will be challenges ahead for him, but the strides he has made since that cold day in February 2003 when three experts shot a hole through the hearts of my wife and I (with the words "I'm sorry to tell you your son is autistic") have been breathtaking. And that would not have been the case without the type of therapy and treatment that this legislation will make more readily available to children across our state.

Lastly, this is a compromise bill that the insurance industry has worked with the autism community on and agreed to - specifically, small group and individual insurance policies are exempt from providing this type of coverage. And it is a fiscally responsible bill. Providing coverage for effective early-intervention therapy results in a greater likelihood of children growing up to be self-sufficient adults; not providing such coverage results in the opposite effect. Study and study shows the state pays much more money in public dollars to support the latter scenario.

If you have any questions about my experiences within the context of this legislation please feel free to contact me at this email address or at 843-685-2788.

I feel certain you will look at this bill and the surrounding issues closely and do what you think is best for our state and its children.

Thank you,
Mike

Editorial from Myrtle Beach Sun News

Ryan's Law is a bill under consideration by the state legislature that would have insurance companies cover doctor-prescribed treatment of autism. Autism is a neurological condition that severely impairs the communication and social abilities of the children it affects, resulting in developmentally disabled children and institutionalized adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in every 150 children born today will be diagnosed with some form of autism. It is the fastest-growing and most prevalent developmental disability in America.
There are two undeniable facts your readers and every legislator voting on this legislation should know about autism. First, early intervention is critical to overcoming its disabling effects. There is a window of opportunity where autistic children can make significant, remarkable progress with the right therapy. I have seen this first-hand with my own son. Second, Applied Behavioral Analysis is the only therapy proven by studies in peer-reviewed journals to produce results and significantly improve the abilities of children with autism. It consists of intensive one-on-one therapy. While parents who can afford the $25,000-plus annual cost of ABA are able to give their children a real chance to grow up and live a meaningful life, most parents must rely on grossly inadequate services provided by state agencies or the schools, denying their children a chance to succeed. If passed, the proposed legislation will change this.
Parents seeking to provide effective early! -intervention ABA therapy for their children will not find much help via state agencies and Medicaid - the only practical choice is to pay for it yourself.

ABA programs sponsored by state agencies are basically training and informational classes about how to set up and run an ABA program, and the waiting list for receiving what little therapy they do provide is months, even years long, which is unacceptable when you're in a race against time to help your child beat autism. When legislators oppose this bill because they want to protect insurance companies at the expense of overburdened state agencies and school districts, taxpayers end up shouldering the burden.

The House and Senate should pass Ryan's Law without tacking on amendments designed to gut its effectiveness. It's time for health insurance companies to step up to the plate and provide the coverage they are paid premiums to cover.

Please do not fall for the insurance lobby's doomsday predictions of drastically higher health insurance premiums if this bill passes. Although they denied coverage at first, my insurance company did end up covering a significant amount of my son's ABA therapy. That insurance company and my employer at that time are still flourishing. Most importantly, after several years of ABA therapy, my son evolved from a child with no language at all to a 6-year old who, like most kids his age, talks so much (in full meaningful sentences) that we can't get him to shut up. Some parents might complain about such things. My wife and I can't help but smile. Every child with autism deserves the same opportunity to thrive.

Please pass this bill.

The writer lives in Myrtle Beach.

South Carolinians Write to Governor About Ryan's Law

Dear Governor,

As the parent of a 3-year-old boy who was recently diagnosed with autism, I ask that you allow Ryan's Law (the Autism Equity Act) to go forward, without a veto. While my son is very intelligent (especially mathematically and with spacial relationships), he is severly delayed in speech and socialization.

Autism is a neurological disorder, which affects the parts of the brain that control language and joint-attention; with therapy from a young age, while the neurological pathways are still forming in the children's brains, most of these children show tremendous improvement -- and many go on to live normal lives.

I believe this neurological disorder should be covered under health insurance, just as strokes and other neurological disorders are covered. It's only right that our children get the treatment they need!

The pediatrician tells us that, with therapy, my son will likely go on to a regular elementary school with "normal" children, and could even excel academically. Without therapy, however, his progress would halt or regress, and he would never develop the language or other skills that are necessary to participate in a normal classroom, or the workforce, one day.

Our state deserves that children like my son be able to share their talents with all of society, pay taxes, and contribute to our local economy -- instead of ending up becoming a burden on taxpayers.

Perhaps this realization is why several other states have passed similar legislation. By allowing Ryan's Law to go forward, you will not only help these children but will also help our state for years to come.

Thank you, governor, for your time, and I hope we can count on you to help our children!

Robin Broyles

South Carolinians Write to Governor About Ryan's Law

Governor Sanford,

My name is Derrick Howle and my son Lucas is autistic. He is my heart and soul and my purpose in life. My love for him is beyond measure and he needs help, your help. He is 8 years old now and thanks to ABA therapy, he has made progress in escaping the world of autism. He has not yet completed that journey. We discovered that Lucas had a problem at 8 months old while we were visiting family in France (my wife is French). Upon our return, we searched for answers to his problem for two more years when finally the diagnosis of autism was given. At 11 month old Lucas started receiving physical and occupational therapies at Kidnetics through Babynet which covered these expenses until he turned 3. Then a program through Medicaid called TEFRA kicked in. But it only covers physical, occupational and speech therapies. When Lucas was diagnosed as autistic at age three, we were told that insurance would not cover ABA therapies. Yet, ABA therapy is the only approved treatment by the US Surgeon General for Autism. So, we looked everywhere and found therapist who were trained for ABA therapy techniques but we had to pay for the cost ourselves. We were told that it would cost over $30,000 a year for 40 hours of therapy. When a friend in France found out he was dieing of cancer, he told his wife that upon his death, he wanted a fund set up in his and Lucas' name to help pay for Lucas' therapies. So, it was at this time in 2002, five thousand miles from Greenville in France that Nounours, Les Amis de Lucas (Teddy Bear and the friends of Lucas) was created. Enough people, both friends and family, contributed in France to this fund, that since January of 2003 we have had enough money to pay for 20-25 hours a week of ABA, although 40 hours had been recommended. We ourselves have contributed to this fund by selling organic vegetables from our garden and canned goods we have canned ourselves and selling French baguettes to the French community in Greenville. The money runs out at the end of this year.

Lucas has continued to make progress with these therapies and to stop the therapies now would be devastating. All he has accomplished so far and all he could accomplish with more therapies would be lost. In the last few weeks I have continued to see the progress the therapies he has taken are having on him. At age 8, he has finally learned to drink using a straw. Why is that important? Because Lucas is non-verbal. He has had trouble controlling the muscle in his mouth so being able to control the muscles in his mouth to suck through a straw means he can learn, through his therapies, to control those same muscles for speech. Every small success is so much more than a small success and time is not on the side of autistic children! We have seen significant progress with Lucas. We have not been able to give him the 40 hours a week he needed but he has progressed despite that. His vocabulary increases every day and although he may not be able to have a conversation with you, he understands everything you say to him, in both English and French. He is extremely smart but can not express it in normal ways. When he does speak and use words, you may not understand him clearly but for those of us who know Lucas, we know that "inch I's" are French fries and "I eem" is ice cream, his two favorite foods. We know the results these therapies can have for an autistic child and we know how important they are. We see it every day with Lucas. There has not been one single goal that we have set for him in his therapies that he has not accomplished on time or ahead of time with the exception of two, his language and potty training and he is currently making progress in both.
We began to worry what we would do when the money ran out from the above mentioned fund. Would we go into debt? Would we ask my parents to give up some of their retirement to help along with cashing in some of mine?

We have no allusions that Lucas may need to live with us the rest of his life with out the help from these therapies so where do we turn? 20 years ago, 1 in every 10,000 children was diagnosed with autism. In 2002 when Lucas was diagnosed it was 1 in every 250. Last year the number was at 1 in every 166. Today, in a report just released by the CDC in Atlanta of which data from SC was used to determine the prevalence of autism, it is 1 in 150. Every 20 minutes a child is diagnosed with autism. So, I am begging you sign this legislation to help my son reach his full potential without having to wait any longer.

S20 passed this year by the legislature will provide the help not only for my son to reach his full potential and hopefully become a functioning member of society, but will also provide help for the hundreds of other children in SC. S20 is vital to the welfare of many families in SC who would have no other chance at helping their autistic children. Not only is it the moral and ethical thing to do, but it is the fiscally responsible thing to do for the state of SC. About 50% of children who receive at least 40 hours a week of ABA therapy for 3 or more years become mainstreamed students while 40% more make significant progress but require some assistance. The majority of those not receiving therapy become wards of the state at a cost of up to 7 million dollars per person.

My father is a retired minister and we lived in a number of areas in SC so when I found out that this bill was going to be introduced again this year I started contacting family, friends, neighbors and churches across the state asking them for their support and to write their legislators on behalf of Lucas. I know that over 50 people have responded from all across the upstate as well as other areas of SC to their representatives and senators on his behalf. It is amazing how many people one child can touch and we have been truly touched by the response we have had from our neighbors, friends and family and how they have passed on our message.

Governor Sanford, I ask you to sign S20, a.k.a. Ryan's Law. I ask you to sign it not as a tax paying citizen of SC and not as a fellow Republican but as a Father! As a Father, I know you would want to do all you can to help your children succeed in life. This law will help me do that sir! I love my son more than life itself and I see the daily struggle he has to force his real self out into the open. As a father, I am helpless to save my son from this disease called autism but I am not helpless to give him the love he needs to unlock the chains that bind him in his world of autism. Help give me the financial support I need to enable my son to overcome this neurological medical condition called autism. Sir, please help me and all the other parents in SC unlock the chains of autism that bind our children by signing Ryan's law the moment it hits your desk.

With kindest regards,
Derrick Howle

South Carolinians Write to Governor About Ryan's Law

Dear Governor Sanford,

Please consider this e-mail a mother's desperate plea that you not veto the bill we parents have struggled so hard to get to your desk. If I have said it once, I have said it who knows how many times - there is nothing wrong in your life until there is something wrong with your child. My husband and I have 4 wonderful children, the oldest of whom has autism.
I write this e-mail to you in a rush, and I apologize. I am trying to get out of the house so the family can accompany Andrew to a Dr's appointment in Jacksonville Florida. Dark times make or break parents.

I am thankful that facing this beast called autism has brought out strength and resourcefulness in my family.

Getting this bill all the way through the legislature has drawn more attention than any of us thought we had to give to one more battle.

Now that we are standing at the door, I beg you not to lock it. Even with the assistance of insurance paying for the only proven therapy that helps our children, our struggles are far from over. We still balance our other children, the jobs we need to keep in order to provide for our kids, and the marriages a few of us are lucky enough not to lose. But the encouragement we have all drawn from the last week where we could see the light at the end of the tunnel to see our children helped by the society they live in has fueled many of us to face one more day.

I have met you at Pompian Hill, through my good friends Elizabeth Hagood and Harry Gregorie, and I have followed your career from the days you made a statement about waste by sleeping on the floor of your office in Washington. I believe you to be a good man with good priorities.
I beg you not to heap one more concrete slab on the shoulders of parents all over this state whose backs are about to break already from the weight of helping their children with autism. Please let the bill become law. I thank you in advance for your consideration of my plea and for your time.
Respectfully,
Kathy Simons