URGENT ACTION! Autism Treatment Coverage!

Got this in the email:

Today Congressman Sestak (D-PA) introduced an Amendment on the floor to HR 5658 National Defense Authorization Act '09 language which would increase the monthly cap of $2,500 to $5,000 on autism treatment for our military dependant children with autism.

Children with autism can and are recovering with intensive and structured behavior intervention based on the principals of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) which TRICARE, our military health insurance, covers. This Amendment is extremely important to support as the current monthly cap of $2,500 only covers roughly 20 hours per month of ABA; when the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Marine Corps, Army, and Navy Surgeon Generals all recommend 30 to 40 hours per week. Yes, you did read correctly; 20 hours per month "covered" versus the 120 to 160 hours per month recommended, and which has scientifically proven to significantly reduce autism symptoms and behaviors.

Your action on this is extremely important for the reasons listed:

Autism is an epidemic and while autism is a spectrum disorder; autism severly impacts 1 in every 67 children according to the Department of Education statistics (2006), and the numbers continue to grow every year.
You will be supporting autism coverage and treatment at the federal legislative level which will significantly help at the state level.
If children with autism do not receive the medically necessary treatment which results in recovery and typical functioning, our work force, and our military forces will be reduced by 1 in 67 adults in the next 10 to 15 years at a minimum, as the autism epidemic continues to grow every year. In Washington state alone we saw an 18% increase from 2006 to 2007.

All you have to do is go here

https://secure2.convio.net/asa/site/Advocacy?JServSessionIdr007=13pqtomwg1.app26a&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=199

and type in a few pieces of information and a letter of support (there for you to read) will be automatically sent to your Representatives asking them to support Congressman Sestak's Amendment to HR 5658. If you would like to read more in depth about all of this, you may visit my blog
http://www.autismsalute.blogspot.com

Congressman Sestak's Amendment will be voted on, on Thursday. Please take action right now!

Our children with autism thank you.
Peace,
Ang
--
Angela Warner - Air Force wife and mom to four children (two with ASD)
http://www.autismsalute.blogspot.com
A-CHAMP Member
Rescue Angel