April 24, 2009
Gov. Nixon tours Cape Girardeau autism center with families, announces support for coverage legislation
Gov. Nixon tours Cape Girardeau autism center with families, announces support for coverage legislation
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon today marked Autism Awareness month by announcing his strong support for the passage of legislation that would require health insurance providers to cover treatments and therapies for Missourians afflicted with autism. Citing the growing number of autism diagnoses, Gov. Nixon called on the legislature to pass a bill that ensures Missourians with health care coverage have access to treatments for autism and related conditions.
"Missouri should be a national leader in understanding, diagnosing and providing state-of-the-art treatment for autism. With our recognition of the broad effects of autism on Missouri citizens, it is our responsibility to support Missouri families with access to the therapies that help children with autism to thrive," said Gov. Nixon.
While touring the Judevine Center for Autism in Cape Girardeau with state Sen. Jason Crowell, Department of Mental Health Director Keith Schafer and Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration Director John Huff, and Department of Social Services Director Ron Levy, Gov. Nixon heard from the families of those who receive treatment at the center and spoke with leaders in the field of caring for those with autism. Families told the Governor of the critical difference that autism treatment provided at the center makes in the lives of their loved ones, and noted the challenges associated with getting needed therapies not currently covered in most health insurance policies.
Gov. Nixon and Sen. Crowell (R-Cape Girardeau) issued a bipartisan call at the center for the passage of legislation to ensure that Missouri families have access to the care they need. Yesterday, the Missouri Senate passed SB 167, one version of legislation that would mandate insurance coverage for autism treatments.
"Autism is a spectrum disorder that affects a large and growing number of Missouri families. That is why I support legislation that would require insurance coverage of autism therapies so that those with autism and related disorders may have greater access to diagnosis and treatment," remarked Sen. Crowell.
Judevine Center CEO Ron Ekstrand, whose center provides access to treatment and support for those with autism in three facilities across Missouri, noted the increased need for care and the difficulty often faced by families in affording non-covered treatments in difficult economic times.
Kim Daniel, whose daughter has autism and receives services at the Judevine Center's Cape Girardeau facility, spoke about how her child's autism has been treated and how improving access to services through insurance coverage would markedly improve the lives of other Missourians suffering from similar conditions.
The Judevine Center, the Tailor Institute and the Autism Center at the Southeast Missouri State University, all of which provide treatment and support for those with autism, will soon take up residence at a new state of the art facility on the campus of the Southeast Missouri State University. Earlier this year, Gov. Nixon released $2.4 million in state funds to go toward the completion of the new autism center facility.