Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law in upholding a statewide autism range disorders advisory, last Wednesday. According to the law, it requires the state to deliver additional focus and potential funding to recognize, to treat and provide essential services for families dealing with autism sponsored by state Sen. Mike Nozzolio, R-54 of Fayette. It will uphold a 19-member advisory board by a bipartisan effort.
In 2015, a federal lawsuit was filed in United States District Court, one of the state's largest Medicaid managed care organizations refusing to cover medically necessary Applied Behavior Analysis treatment for children with autism, filed with attorneys Richard Ganulin of Cincinnati and Aimee Gilman of Cleveland according to Autism Speaks.
By law, it is required to cover all medically necessary treatments for children under the age of 21, and an estimated one-third of all children with autism receive primary coverage through Medicaid. The federal Medicaid Act mandates that all states provide Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) services for all eligible children under 21 years of age.
As stated by the Executive Director of Autism Speaks Legal Resource Center Dan Unumb, the purpose of the program is to ensure that the conditions are treated early and children that enter adulthood as healthy and functional as possible.
Unumb notes that in the last several years there have also been several successful lawsuits by Medicaid families whose children with autism had been wrongfully denied access to medically necessary treatment.
Experts in the field of autism and community advocates includes the member from numerous state agencies. People who live with autism are tasked to determine a strategy to disseminate information and resources better.
According to Finger Lakes Times, one in 68 children ( 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls) identified as having an autism disorder, it has become more common compared to childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes, and pediatric AIDS combined.
Nozzollio said in a release that autism continues to be the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States and this new autism spectrum disorders advisory board will present the significant opportunity in improving and providing services that support the aid to those who are living with these diseases.
CEO of Geneva-based Happiness House Mary Walsh Boatfield compliment the legislation, she accredits Sen. Nozzolio's work in establishing the critical importance of advisory board. Nozzolio has been devoted to individuals and families living with autism and hosted numerous events to raise awareness of the issue and provide information about services available for families who deals with autism. Admiring the determination of the parents to provide every possible opportunity for their child, Nozzolio added.
