BCBS is ending health insurance coverage for intensive early intervention behavior therapy, according to an article published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press today. See, “Blue Cross change concerns patient advocates for autistic children,” by Christopher Snowbeck, published Dec. 20, 2011 in the Pioneer Press. This change comes after years of covering this effective early intervention for young children who have autism, and is a stark reversal of BCBS’ own medical policy on autism coverage.
It is estimated that this change will directly affect about 200 young children in Minnesota, and their families. What will these families do? Well, one option is to sue BCBS in court and the Autism Advocacy & Law Center stands ready to help! Please contact us if your child will be losing coverage to learn how we can help you.
Unless we fight back now this will be a devastating blow to children in Minnesota who have autism and their families! We pay our health insurance premiums and deserve to have coverage of medically necessary, evidence-based treatment for autism covered. Intensive early intervention behavior therapy (“IEIBT”), a sub-set of applied behavior analysis (“ABA”), is highly effective and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatricians as well as by many local experts in the field of autism. If private health insurance doesn’t cover IEIBT then many families will be forced to turn to state-run health care programs and pay extra to gain access to coverage. Other families will be forced to sue school districts so that their child will be able to receive effective early intervention. (Fortunately, the Autism Advocacy & Law Center has recently added an attorney with special education law experience to expand our ability to assist families in this regard.)
With the legislative session fast approaching, parents, friends, family members, and health care providers must unite to fight for affordable access to medically necessary care for all individuals who have autism. Please join us by signing up for action alerts — just click on the button on the right side of your screen.
Amy Dawson is the parent of twins, one of whom has autism and special health care needs. She began practicing law in 1992 at the firm of Faegre & Benson, L.L.P. in Minneapolis. She also worked at the PACER Center and is a member of the Board of the Arc Greater Twin Cities. Amy’s law practice focuses on issues related to autism, disabilities, insurance and estate planning.
Bob Gunderson inspired me to devote my practice to individuals who have disabilities, their families, and the organizations that serve them. Bob Gunderson was my mentor, friend and colleague and I miss him very much. Bob Gunderson served the disability community as an attorney, as a brother, and as a dedicated volunteer who spent many hours in service to organizations such as Opportunity Partners, Fraser, PACER, and the Arc of Minnesota and Arc Greater Twin Cities.
I don’t have insurance for myself and my son has MA (teffra)., that covers these same services. Knowing how well IEIBT is working for him, it just breaks my heart to see these insurance companies take the money, but deny coverage. THis is the therapy that was recommended by his doctors. Shouldn’t that count for something? What has changed for them to decided to deny coverage of these services all of a sudden after years of covering it? We need to fight back. Many employers in Minnesota have BCBS for health insurance. I’m in the process of finding a new job with insurance, and was counting on having these services still provided!
My son was born in Minnesota. He was a month early and took on the characteristics of a preemie. No doctor, pediatrician, or health professional noticed anything. Later on before the age of three, I notice and the caregiver notice something different. By this time we moved to Indiana, and 4 (so he could not qualify for early intervention services). I have group insurance that is considered out of state. But what gets me is that I dont fall in the Pennslyvania mandate for Autism becuase my insurance doesnt acknowledge it, Indiana (where I work) or Pennslyvania ( where my insurance is at). I have Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.