Politics & Government

Murphy: Bill OK'd By State Senate Would Help Families Coping With Autism

Legislation would prohibit insurance companies from terminating coverage or refusing to renew a policy because an individual has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

Rockland County Legislator John A. Murphy is singing the praises of the state Senate for passing legislation to enable individuals with autism spectrum disorders to obtain insurance coverage for screening, diagnosis and treatment.

If signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, this legislation would allow Rockland residents, and families throughout New York, to be able to provide the necessary medical services for their children without the constant fear of financial ruin, said Murphy, an Orangetown Republican.

Murphy said the bill sponsored by state Sen. Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. of Long Island enables New Yorkers to save enormous out-of-pocket expenses for the initial screening and diagnosis and for the care that follows, such as behavioral health treatments and occupational, physical and speech therapies. The law would also prohibit insurance companies from terminating coverage or refusing to renew, adjust, amend, issue, or execute a policy solely because the individual has been diagnosed with or received treatment for autism spectrum disorders.  New York will join 25 other states, which have already enacted similar autism insurance reform laws.

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“As president of Camp Venture for almost 40 years and a producer of the annual Rockland Autism Symposium, this is an issue near and dear to my heart,” Murphy said, noting that the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 110 children, including 1 in 70 boys, are currently affected with autism. “With the prevalence of this devastating disorder, we are often hard-pressed to find a family not personally affected by autism or to not know a family that is. The Autism Spectrum Disorders pandemic requires early intervention and necessitates services throughout adulthood. Families should not have to be bankrupted in order to provide the proper care for a loved one. This law will go a long way towards easing the burden many of our Rockland County families face.”

The 2011 Rockland Autism Symposium is set for Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Pearl River Hilton. It is funded by the Needleman Family Philanthropic Foundation, Mind-Works. Guest speakers include Temple Grandin, Ph.D., who is a world-famous animal scientist and autism self-advocate, and was included in Time Magazine’s 2010 list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

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Several of nation’s foremost medical research scientists, educators and service providers will be present to give the symposium a hard, clear look at the latest findings, a peek into the future and concrete practical advice to educators, physicians, parents and others.  The opportunity to register for the symposium will be announced in September and information on this and past symposiums can be found by visiting the website at www.rocklandautismsymposium.com


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