Thompson Foundation for Autism

Mike Matheny on the cover of Town & Style

wamplerjs — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 23:13:01 +0000

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny and the 2012 It’s in the Cards Dinner Gala and Auction are featured on the cover of the March 21 Town & Style.

See the online version here.

Tickets and sponsorships are still available for the Gala. Click here for more details.

New York Times Bestselling Author David Finch to Visit Mizzou March 6

wamplerjs — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 19:38:19 +0000

PRESS RELEASE—New York Times Bestselling Author David Finch to Visit Mizzou March 6

Finch to speak about life, marriage and living with Asperger Syndrome.

Columbia, Mo. February 21, 2012: David Finch, author of The Journal of Best Practices, comes to Mizzou March 6, 2012 to share his entertaining and enlightening story of living with Asperger Syndrome – and how he and his wife Kristen used their knowledge of his condition to transform their marriage.

“Filled with humor and surprising wisdom, The Journal of Best Practices is a candid story of ruthless self-improvement, a unique window into living with an autism-spectrum condition, and proof that a true heart can conquer all.” – The Journal of Best Practices

The presentation is a part of the MU Thompson Center Exceptional Achievement Lecture Series sponsored by the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Other sponsors of the event include the MU School of Health Professions, MU Provost’s Office, MU School of Medicine, MU School of Journalism and MU College of Human Environmental Sciences.

The schedule on March 6 follows. All events are free and open to the public. Copies of Finch’s book will be available for purchase at the event. Mr. Finch is also available for media interviews upon request.

5:30 pm: Reception and Book Signing, Palmer Room, Reynolds Journalism Institute
7 pm: Presentation, Fisher Auditorium, Gannett Hall
8 pm: Book Signing and Meet the Author.

About David Finch: David Finch married his wife, Kristen, in 2003, and five years later he was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. David’s essays have been published in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Slate, and Psychology Today. His debut memoir, The Journal of Best Practices, was published on January 3rd, 2012, and is now a New York Times Best Seller. David lives in northern Illinois with Kristen and their two children.

The MU School of Health Professions (SHP) is the University of Missouri system’s only school of health professions and the state’s only public allied health program located on a health sciences campus. Allied health professions account for more than 60 percent of the total U.S. health care workforce and represent more than half of the fastest growing occupations in the country according to the Bureau for Labor Statistics. With programs in rehabilitation, diagnostic and imaging sciences, graduates of the School of Health Professions fill critical roles in health care. The school is comprised of six departments and ten disciplines, each with their own specialized accreditation processes. Students of the School of Health Professions rank among the best and brightest at MU. Health Professions students consistently excel on national examinations, placing them in the top tier of candidates. The School of Health Professions granted 299 degrees in May of 2011. Visit shp.missouri.edu for more.

What Families Should Know About Missouri’s Landmark Autism Bill

wamplerjs — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:22:41 +0000

What Families Should Know About Missouri’s Landmark Autism Bill

John Huff, Missouri Director of Insurance, YouTube

Missouri Director of Insurance John Huff explains the key provisions of the law just signed by Gov. Jay Nixon that guarantees insurance coverage for autism treatments.

http://www.youtube.com/user/mogov1#p/a/u/1/P-7tIhEYQ9U

Governor Nixon Signs Autism Legislation

shawm — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:27:18 +0000

(from KMIZ, ABC 17 -June 10, 2010)

Governor Nixon signed a bill into law Thursday (June 10) that requires insurance companies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Autism.

The new law requires up to $40,000 in coverage for a therapy called Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA, until kids turn 18 years old. Supporters of the bill say the therapy is crucial in helping children with Autism or related disorders.

“Thousands of families in Missouri will no longer face the agonizing decision to sacrifice financial well-being in order to get this vital treatment for their children,” Gov. Nixon said. “These legislators and I are here today with a message to those families. Things in the Show Me State are going to change; this is a turning point.”

The bill also says insurance providers cannot refuse to renew or restrict coverage only because a dependent is diagnosed with Autism. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2011.

The Governor, lawmakers and families affected by Autism attended the bill-signing at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Disorders in Columbia.

http://www.abc17news.com/news/story.php?id=17236&franchise=&category=Missouri%20Government

Missouri is now the 21st state with a similar law.

Autism affects an estimated one in 110 children nationwide.

Autism Bill Passes in Missouri

shawm — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:39:12 +0000

Jefferson City, MO - HB 1311, the autism insurance reform bill PASSED in the House on May 12 by a vote of 144:16 and less than one hour later in the Senate by a vote of 27:6! The bill is now heading to Governor Nixon’s desk where he has promised to sign it into law.

The bill includes coverage for applied behavior analysis (ABA) for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) up to $40,000 per year, or more if medically necessary, through age 18. Insurance coverage for non-ABA therapies is not subject to age limits or monetary caps. Insurers cannot impose visit limits on any coverage under the bill, other than the dollar cap on ABA.

Passage of the autism insurance bill is the culmination of years of legislative efforts and lengthy discussions over the last four months. Board members of the Thompson Foundation for Autism worked closely with autism organizations from across the state of Missouri as well as state legislators to seek passage of this bill.

Its primary sponsor in the Missouri Senate was Senator Scott T. Rupp, R – St. Charles; co-sponsor Eric Schmitt, R – Glendale, who has a son with autism. Rupp said autism is the only disorder out of the top 10 childhood neurobiological disorders that is not covered by health insurance. Senator Schmitt added, “ Children on the autism spectrum deal with so many challengers each and every day. These proven therapies are the difference between whether a family can go to a restaurant without having to leave early, the difference between a child having meaningful friendships. We owe it to these families to give their children the opportunity to reach their full potential. Put simply, this bill is the right thing to do and the right time to do it.”

Lead sponsors of the bill in the House were Reps. Dwight Scharnhorst, R – St. Louis, Jason Grill, D – Kansas City, and Jeff Grisamore, R – Lee’s Summit/ Greenwood. Representative Steve Tilley,R – Perryville, also was instrumental in the passage of the bill.

“ For families like ours, the skies have opened, “ said Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst, a St. Louis County Republican whose grandson was autistic and who has championed the legislation for years. “ A lot of families aren’t receiving this kind of treatment – they can’t afford it. But now they’re on the road to improving that child’s life. “

The bill will go into effect on January 1, 2011.

A Recap of the Bill

$40K cap on ABA until age 18

No cap on other therapies
Definition of therapy includes equipment (communication devices and other assistive technology will be covered)
Triennial COLA (every 3 years the cost of living allowance on the cap can be adjusted)
Treatment plans are subject to 6 month review (not 3 month review as in earlier versions)
Annual reporting is required of insurers on specific parameters
Autism is defined using language that refers to the “current version of the DSM” (the dated DSM IV language was removed)
State licensure (which requires BCBA certification) is required for behavior analysts, but front line therapists (implementers) will not have to register

The Missouri Autism Coalition believes provisional licensure for behavior analysts will be required between 2011-2012. Licensure will then be required beginning Jan 1, 2012.

The licensure for behavior analysis constitutes a “practice act”, which means that the language essentially defines the practice of ABA in Missouri. It does NOT mean that you only have to have a license if you are billing insurance for ABA. Therefore it applies to anyone who is practicing behavior analysis (with an exemption for public school staff implementing IDEA and 504 Plans, and students doing ABA practicums).

For more information, go to www.missouriautismcoalition.com or www.autismvotes.org/Missouri

MU vs. KU Border Challenge for Autism II

wamplerjs — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:35:56 +0000

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

6:00pm – 9:30pm

Boulevard Brewing

2501 Southwest Boulevard

Kansas City, MO

Tickets are $35 and include fight songs, bragging rights, sports highlights, appetizers and Boulevard beverages. Truman and Baby Jay will be there as well as staff from MU’s athletic department. To purchase tickets:
http://www.projectchange-kc.org/borderchallenge2/

5th Annual Autism Intervention Conference

wamplerjs — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:06:53 +0000

(Cheryl Uterschultz, The Thompson Center Alumni Newsletter)

The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Missouri is proud to announce the 5th Annual Autism Intervention Conference to be held April 8-10, 2010 in Columbia, Missouri. For more information visit: http://thompsoncenter.missouri.edu/

Autism coverage bill clears Missouri Senate committee

shawm — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:16:47 +0000

(-Brian Krebs, Columbia Missourian)

JEFFERSON CITY — Parents of children with autism are one step closer to guaranteed insurance coverage for their children.

Missouri Senate committee members unanimously voted Tuesday (January 26, 2010) to pass a bill http://www.senate.mo.gov/10info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=3157601that would mandate insurance coverage for treatment of autism and related disorders.

Sen. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, sponsored the bill, which would allow people younger than 21 under certain conditions up to $72,000 in coverage per year.

Gov. Jay Nixon has advocated for the bill. Early diagnosis and treatment practices have been found to be very effective in treating children with autism, Nixon said.

“Without insurance coverage, the cost of these vital therapies often places an unbearable financial burden on those families,” Nixon said in a release. “I applaud the committee for its bipartisan vote on the this autism bill and urge the General Assembly to continue its quick passage so I can sign it into law.”

Critics have said the measure would increase health insurance costs.
Legislative staff estimate the increased coverage would cost the state $7.2 million in the first full year of implementation for coverage of government workers’ children. The staff predicted that cost would fall by half in the next year as demand fell.

The staff also wrote that they did not include the costs of a potential expansion in diagnosis criteria, which would lead to more people for insurance to cover.

A pair of House bills for a similar autism coverage mandate are currently sitting in committee. No action has been taken since the committee hearing last Tuesday.

Last year, a similar measure cleared the Senate but was blocked by House leadership.

(Click here for a direct link to story http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2010/01/26/autism-bill-moves-closer-senate-floor/)

Federal Dollars to Support The Thompson Center

shawm — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:50:30 +0000

Press release from the office of Sen. Kit Bond

U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced that he secured $750,000 in federal funds for the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Missouri (MU).

“Local and community leaders in Missouri asked me to help send some of their tax dollars back home for local priorities,” said Senator Kit Bond. “I’m proud to support these funds that will help improve the lives of children and families across Missouri.”

“This generous allocation is the latest example of Senator Bond’s unwavering support for Missouri children and families,” said Jim Poehling, Executive Director of the Thompson Center at MU. “The University of Missouri Thompson Center pledges to use its best efforts to apply these funds for the enhancement of research, education and clinical care for Missourians affected by autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.”

Autism is a complex brain disorder that has increased in prevalence at an alarming rate over the past 20 years. Currently, approximately 23,000 individuals in Missouri are affected and many more experience other developmental disorders. This funding will help improve the lives of Missouri children and families living with autism and neurodevelopment disorders. Bond secured the $750,000 in funds in the 2010 omnibus spending bill, which passed the U.S. Senate yesterday to provide for construction, renovation and equipment costs for the Thompson Center and help meet the growing needs of children living with autism.

Established in 2005, the Thompson Center is a facility which accommodates research, training and service programs to help meet the needs of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. MU obtained $5.65 million in funding to purchase a new facility to accommodate the expanding number of individuals in Missouri suffering from the disease and other disorders. The funds Bond secured will also help advance the ability of faculty at the center to serve more Missouri children and families, while enhancing MU’s national reputation for high-quality research.

Serving 1,700 individuals over the past year, the Thompson Center is the largest center in Missouri specializing in autism spectrum disorders. For more information, please visit the MU Thompson Center website at http://thompsoncenter.missouri.edu/

Click here to read the original article.

Support Grows for Autism Legislation

shawm — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:39:46 +0000

By Jason Noble of the Kansas City Star

Gov. Jay Nixon appeared Thursday with several Missouri lawmakers to call for prompt passage of a bill requiring coverage of autism treatments.

“Families must have access to both the diagnosis of autism and the best therapies to treat the condition,” said Nixon, a Democrat.

House Speaker Ron Richard, a Republican, promised quick action and said he would support the bill that ultimately emerges from the House.

“Whatever the final product is that’s sent out to the Senate, that’s what I’ll support,” Richard said.

His support is a turnabout from the last legislative session, when a similar bill breezed through the Senate but failed in the House after Richard declined to bring it to the floor for debate.

At the time, Richard said he did not believe the bill had a “strong consensus.”

Since then, however, an interim committee has begun building consensus among families, insurance providers and small businesses that may be affected, said Kristen Blanchard, a spokeswoman for Richard.

Identical bills were filed in the House and Senate this week requiring state-regulated health insurance carriers — about a third of the overall market — to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism, a neurological disorder that affects communication and social skills.

The key sections require insurers to cover up to $72,000 a year for applied behavior analysis therapy, an intensive treatment that doctors and families say is effective for young children diagnosed with the disorder.

“What the therapies really mean for families … is the difference between whether or not a mother can take her daughter to a movie, or a dad can take his son to a ball game,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt, a St. Louis County Republican and the father of a child with autism.

The legislation also includes a waiver allowing small businesses to ignore the mandate if they can prove that autism coverage has led to an increase in premiums of 5 percent or more.

Backers expect continued opposition from insurance companies, which argue that a mandate will raise premiums and force others to give up their insurance.

“It sounds like a special interest may, if the legislation is passed, get served at a high price tag to others who are struggling to pay their premiums,” said Calvin Call, executive director of the Missouri Insurance Coalition.

Call said his organization estimates that premiums could rise as much as 3 percent.

But the bill’s supporters, who estimate that premiums would rise by less than 1 percent, are undeterred.

“We think … that this will be the year that we’re going to get something and it will be meaningful,” said Sen. Scott Rupp, a Republican and the bill’s sponsor.

“It won’t be a watered-down version that the insurance industry is hoping for.”

Click here to read the original article.