Proposed Virginia Autism Bill

Please find below from Virginia Delegate Shannon Valentine. If you would like to see a copy of the legislation, email me at cmosley222@aol.com.

Thank you Shannon for your work for Virginia families.


Dear Friends,



Without getting hopes too high, an important step was taken recently by the Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits. The Commission voted to approve Delegate Bob Marshall’s legislation, HB 1588, a bill requiring insurance coverage for autism services with a cap of $36,000. While the legislation is limited, it is an important step in the right direction. Now, it will move to the General Assembly. A copy of the legislation is attached.



This legislation goes hand-in-hand with the Autism Study I introduced, which is now in progress within the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC). The legislation is intended to identify best practices in diagnosing, treating and managing autism so that a delivery system of critical information can be created to serve parents, educators and the medical community. While JLARC is conducting research throughout the United States, it has also held four public sessions around the Commonwealth, and is now planning visits to ten additional localities.



The final report is expected in July 2009. Our hope is we will have a strategy in place that will lead to earlier diagnosis, more intensive intervention, and more effective treatment by providing the best information possible.



I continue to be so grateful to you, and wish you and your families a most joyous Holiday and all the best for the New Year.



Shannon