Support Nick's Law during Autism Awareness Month & Beyond

April is autism awareness month and families dealing with autism in Oklahoma have a tremendous opportunity before them right this minute.

Parents and advocates have banded together to seek legislation that would require insurance providers to cover treatment for autism.

If you would like to support this legislation NOW is the time to get involved. Here are 3 things you can do:


We need to do three things by Monday at the latest.

STEP 1
Contact the Republican House Leadership and ask that SB 2157 be heard next week (by April 10th) in House Economic Development Committee. We need to make sure that the House leadership knows that we are very serious. (contact info included below)

STEP 2.
SB 2157 is not a compelling bill for members to vote on. It is about DHS attaching child support payments to Fire Fighter Pensions. The members will need to support Nick’s Law straight out. Rep Charlie Joyner will be the presenter during the hearing.

There are 10 republican members and 7 democrat members. We have been told by the dems in the committee and I have been told by the Dem Leader in the House that we have their vote. We need 9 votes minimum to pass. We should work to get 10. Please contact the republican members of the committee and ask for their support of Nick’s Law in the committee. We need their support in a committee vote.

STEP 3.
Contact the Democrats on the committee and thank them for their support of Nick’s Law.

A few talking points for your discussion.

• Similar legislation was passed in Indiana in 2001. The Indiana Insurance Commission’s office has yet to report any increase in health insurance premiums due to this legislation. That is over 6 years worth of research and study.
• Arizona past similar legislation to Nick’s Law last week, joining a list of over 17 states. Louisiana, Mississippi, and Connecticut have introduced similar legislation in March.
• The Insurance Industry’s own policy group CAHI.org reports that autism insurance coverage will cost less than 1%.
• Nick’s Law is about autism insurance coverage. There is some discussion that covering additional mandates (60+) will increase costs. We are only talking about Nick’s Law.
• Oklahoma is one of the least mandated states in the nation.
  

Republican Leadership

Speaker of the House

Chris Benge - chrisbenge@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7444

Speaker Pro Tem

Gus Blackwell - gusblackwell@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7384

Chair of Economic Development Committee

Rep Ron Peterson - ronpeterson@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7338

Republican Floor Leader

Rep Greg Piatt - gregpiatt@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7326

Majority Whip

Rep Rob Johnson - robjohnson@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7407

Co-Majority Whip

Rep Mike Jackson - mikejackson@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7317


Committee Members

Rep. Ron Peterson - Chair R ronpeterson@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7338
Rep. George Faught R mailto:george.faught@okhouse.gov(405) 557-7310
Rep. John Auffett D mailto:johnauffet@okhouse.gov(405) 557-7394
Rep. Mike Brown D mailto:mikebrown@okhouse.gov(405) 557-7408
Rep. Ed Cannaday D mailto:ed.cannaday@okhouse.gov(405) 557-7375
Rep. Wallace Collins D mailto:wallace.collins@okhouse.gov(405) 557-7386

Rep. David Derby R mailto:david.derby@okhouse.gov(405) 557-7377
Rep. Jeff Hickman R jwhickman@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7339
Rep. Chuck Hoskin D mailto:chuck.hoskin@okhouse.gov(405) 557-7319
Rep. Fred Jordan R mailto:fred.jordan@okhouse.gov(405) 557-7331
Rep. Jerry McPeak D mailto:jerrymcpeak@okhouse.gov(405) 557-7302
Rep. Ron Peters R mailto:ronpeters@okhouse.gov(405) 557-7359
Rep. Greg Piatt R mailto:gregpiatt@okhouse.gov(405) 557-7326
Rep. Earl Sears R earl.sears@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7358
Rep. Mike Shelton D mikeshelton@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7367
Rep. Paul Wesslehoft R paulwesselhoft@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7343
Rep. Susan Winchester R susanwinchester@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7333