Santa arrives at the Dayton mall
2009 Ohio State football
Trotwood-Madison vs. Winton Woods
Bill forces firms to cover autism
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Rhonda Jenkins, of Clayton, holds her son Joseph, 4, who has autism. The family paid $18,000 last year in out of pocket costs for medication, therapy and other medical treatment for Joseph's autism. The Jenkins family is lobbying for legislation at the Statehouse that would require insurance companies to cover autism. Staff photo by Jan UnderwoodCOLUMBUS — The Jenkins family of Clayton has good medical insurance, but last year paid nearly $18,000 out of pocket for prescription drugs, therapies and other treatment for their 4-year-old son.
Joseph Jenkins' autism isn't covered by insurance.
"We are drowning," said Rhonda Jenkins, a stay-at-home mom of four kids, plus another due in April. "We're definitely living paycheck to paycheck and robbing Peter to pay Paul sometimes."
The Jenkins family is supporting House Bill 8, which would require insurance companies in Ohio to cover diagnoses and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.
State Reps. Nancy Garland, D-New Albany, and Ted Celeste, D-Grandview Heights, said they hope to pass the bill this year and then work on getting support in the Ohio Senate. A similar bill failed to get a vote last year when the GOP controlled the Ohio House.
House Bill 8 is opposed by business groups that believe insurance mandates drive up the cost of providing health care coverage for employees.
The state has identified more than 10,000 school age children with autism and there may be as many as 45,000 more children and adults with the disorder, said Doug Krinsky, of Autism Speaks, a family advocacy group.
Dr. Jacquie Wynn, director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, said roughly half of those families with insurance find out their child's autism is excluded from coverage. Intensive early therapy can make a huge difference in the life of a child with autism, she said.
"If you get help and the right kind of help, you can see amazing improvements," Jenkins said. "But it costs money."
Contact this reporter at (614)224-1624
or lbischoff@coxohio.com
