Would your insurance pay for treatment if your child was diagnosed with autism tomorrow?

The diagnosis rate for autism is truly at epidemic levels. I have seen statistics quoted from 1 in 150 to children to 1 in 66 children!

Unfortunately for every child diagnosied, there is a family thrust into a healthcare system with no cure to offer and an insurance system that has little interest in even helping families cope with the overwhelming financial burden of paying for treatment and early intervention to help minimize the child's symptoms.

Currently an effort is underway in Oklahoma to that would require private health insurers to include coverage of expenses associated with treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

If you have a child with autism or care about a family coping with this condition, please contact Billie Roane or the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy to learn how you can help.

A quick & easy way to raise $$ for autism research

The band, Five for Fighting, is generously donating $0.49 to Autism Speaks for *each time* this video is viewed. The funding goes toward research studies to help find a cure. They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass this goal. The video is beautifully done and highlights many important facts about autism and the families it touches.

Just the facts....on Medicaid

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a health coverage program jointly funded by the federal and state government. This program helps pay some or all medical bills for many people who can't afford them. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) is the state agency that administers the program. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) determines financial eligibility for the program.

You can find this definition along with lots of other helpful tips and info on:

• who is eligible for Medicaid
• what services and supplies are covered by Medicaid
• how Medicaid can provide early screening & treatment for your kids
• and more

Just check out the latest Medicaid fact sheet available on the ABLE Tech website.

A quick holiday tip

Did you know that each year ToyRUs publishes a "Differently-Abled Toy Guide"? It breaks toys down by age, and category (auditory, creativity, vision, gross motor, fine motor, thinking, self-esteem, social skills , tactile, thinking, visual) so you can find just the right toy for the special child in your life. Along with their comprehensive toy guide they also offer printable PDF documents of Frequently Asked Questions and the Top 10 Tips for Buying Toys.

Happy Holidays!
Lisa