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Posted: 9:30 PM Jan 12, 2009
High Cost of Autism Hitting W.Va. Families Hard
One out of every 150 children in this country is living with autism, and it's bankrupting families in more ways than one -- both emotionally and financially.
Reporter: Will Jones Email Address: will.jones@wsaz.com |
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12 Comments
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- One out of every 150 children in this country is living with autism, and it's bankrupting families in more ways than one -- both emotionally and financially.
The health-care costs are enormous, and families are looking to the state for help. Many people affected by autism gathered Monday during a legislative committee meeting in Charleston.
Parents said they simply can't afford the costs on their own. The health-care costs for autism are staggering, and insurance companies often refuse to foot the bill.
Several states already have laws on the books that require insurance companies to cover autism treatments and therapies, but West Virginia does not. Logan County Delegate Ralph Rodighiero is pushing for coverage in the Mountain State.
On Monday, lawmakers heard from the man who helped push an autism bill through the Pennsylvania Legislature. He said a similar bill would increase insurance premiums for West Virginians by $3 a month.
For more, including comments from parents affected by autism, click on the video link above.
Latest Comments
Posted by: Marielle
on Jan 19, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Joe, There are many, many treatments that help and are effective. These include early intervention strategies such as applied behavior analysis, cognitive and adaptive living skills training and speech, physical and occupational therapies (just to name a few). As with most disabilities (whether physical, mental or developmental) treatment is expensive. I challenge you to find anyone to agree treatment shouldn't be covered until a cure is found. I guess treatment for diabetes, cancer, schizophrenia and alzheimer's shouldn't be covered until we can assure a cure is in place? If you would like more information on the so-called "treatments" you can contact one of the many local behavioral health agencies in your area, Marshall University or your local DHHR.
Posted by: Kay
on Jan 14, 2009 at 05:31 AM
Joe, do your sentiments apply to cancer, HIV,smoking, the common cold? There's no cure for those either. How do you know the treatments are medicore. If you knew anything about autism you would know that its a continuum diagnosis and no two cases of it are the same just as no two outcomes from treatment are the same.
Posted by: Sid
on Jan 13, 2009 at 01:11 PM
Okay, I have worked in the field. Parents with autistic child can get mr/dd waiver and get paid to take care of their children. PLUS have paid staff in the home the rest of the time. Maybe if the MR/DD program was overhauled the increase for insurances would not be footed by the tax payers. I know a mother who was making $1600.00 a month to care for her child plus she had staff in the home who were also getting paid 9.00 an hour from 4 to 11 p.m. when the child was not in school.. come on...
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