Okay, so now I'm on my soapbox for this post! Sorry, I'm being political here! (I have to vent...Josh is tired of hearing it, I'm on vacation at the lake and I need to get it off my chest!!!)
Leah had "Psychological Testing" to diagnose her Autism at University of Michigan. Now, some of you may be thinking, "Psychological Testing...did they hook her up to probes and wires???" No, no, no!!! It was simply behavioral observation, human interaction and speech and language testing. All to indicate Autism or not. Well, our insurance company (and yours too probably) doesn't "do" Autism. Simply stated, they are refusing coverage for her highly expensive diagnostic testing...the testing that allows us access to the most appropriate therapies and services...which the insurance company won't cover either (and we're not asking them to...YET!)
It's funny though, the insurance company is using an odd statement to say that they don't cover psychological testing for Leah..."It is an experimental and unproven method." Strange...there is no blood test, no genetic marker to examine, no brain scan to look at. Psychological testing is the method used at the National Institutes of Health as well as at one of the most recognized diagnostic centers in the nation...University of Michigan Autism and Communications Disorders Center...Our Clinic! Way to go insurance companies!!!
So in our grievance...7 pages long with professional citations and PhD letters of support...we state that they are discriminating against individuals with Autism in their denial of coverage, particularly Leah!!!
There is a Bill (actually 2...one for HMO's too) on the table here in Michigan that is in committee to force insurance companies to cover diagnosis and therapies for Autism. If you have the heart, contact your State Representative to ask for their support on this bill. A simple email would work!
Remember, individuals with Autism are individuals first...thus they deserve the same things in life that we are afforded!!!! Their Autism is secondary!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment