One Florida Family Wages A Battle To Reform A Flawed Autism Law
"Our daughter is autistic and insurance companies are not paying for adequate therapies. Florida's Autism Insurance Mandate is flawed and doesn't deliver what promised. Please sign our Petition to Reform the law so it really covers the treatments our kids need in order to progress." Adriana Zighelboim.
MIAMI, June 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In 2008, the Florida Senate approved the Florida Autism Legislation (Senate Bill Number 2654) that comprises an Insurance Mandate to cover children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. However, five years later only a very small percentage of the affected population is able to claim or receive compensation for the treatments their kids need to improve.
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Now, one of those persons affected has decided to turn one family's struggle into an entire countrywide battle. "We don't want you to have to move to another State in order to get the treatment your kid needs and deserves," said Adriana Zighelboim, founding member of Autism Conquers, a non-profit organization created with the goal of giving autistic children of Florida the treatment they need in order to progress; to increase autism insurance coverage and recover the money insurance companies are denying.
As one of its first steps, Autism Conquers has launched a Petition to the Florida Senate to Reform the Autism Insurance Mandate. The petition requests the Senate to increase the amount of coverage, and to eliminate the exceptions that makes the claiming process almost impossible.
According to recently released data by the Center for Disease Control (DCD), 1 in 50 children are diagnosed with Autism. There is no cure for Autism, but it is a treatable condition. Early intensive intervention is the key to progress and can cost as much as $60,000 per year. Withholding coverage is a costly mistake for society as studies have shown that nearly half the kids who receive early intervention won't need expensive special-education services later on.
Unfortunately, the therapies that will help Florida families have not been forthcoming, and unless the law is reformed the children will not get better and won't be mainstreamed to a normal lifestyle. That's why Autism Conquers is rallying the community to support their Petition.
You can support them by signing the Petition through their website: http://autismconquers.org/ or directly at Change.org.
Media Contact:
Mariela Briceno
[email protected]
T. 786-356.3297
SOURCE Autism Conquers
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