Alright – so, maybe not in hillbilly land of 10,000 lakes knows this or even cares – but CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) administrator announced that she is leaving CMS after Congressman Darell Issa’s committee constantly kept harassing her. Let’s put this in an autism context.
Darrell Issa was the chair of the very powerful committee of house oversight and government reform in Congress who did that one autism hearing couple of years ago – the Federal government’s response to autism. In this committee, Issa calls all White men to talk about autism, not one single minority or woman was part of that panel. When I asked them, why the Sandra Fluke thing again – their response was they did not intentionally exclude autism mothers and minorities, right – I did not believe them. In the interest of fairness, minority ranking Cummings from MD had the ability to invite and his office also did not even think of the lack of diversity in that panel.
Issa also got campaign donation from autism groups including a MN ABA owner as noted and blogged many times in many autism national blogs. The good news is Issa is no longer committee chair – goodbye and good riddance is my take. The new chair seems low key, but I don’t have enough information on how if any his autism actions will be different.
Tavenner on the other hand – I respect and admire her. She along with her team starting with Mann are the reason – millions of autism families will now have access to autism interventions under EPSDT. Before Tavenner, CMS was led by Berkwic from MA. I have to say, I had such a hard time advocating in his office even after the White House sent couple of emails on my behalf. (I know how weird is it the White House validated my advocacy) Berkwic’s office always told me CMS can not authorize ABA therapy unless Congress changes rules for EPSDT. So, at that time – I advocated to then not have ABA coverage under ACA because I thought that would create more unequal and racial disparity. No, it was not easy since Autism Speaks and every other big organization wanted ABA to be part of the new health care law. Their take was once we pay for it under the private market then it will automatically trickle down to the poor and Medicaid. Of course that is wrong and stupid – since when has giving more to the wealthy trickled down to the poor.
Needless to say, we prevailed then and ABA coverage was taken out of ACA by the Obama Administration. My take here to the Obama Administration was if you want to force private insurance companies to cover ABA therapy then force CMS to cover ABA for the poor who are disproportionately minorities, otherwise it is unfair, unjust, un-equal and un-American. And what do you know – they listened and got the message, awesome and I am grateful. At the time, they said no coverage for ABA in private insurance or Medicaid. In other words, do it for all kids or don’t do it for any, especially those that can afford the therapy.
Then came Tavenner so I decided to ask the same questions again of can CMS cover ABA under EPSDT. And as we all know July of 2014 – CMS announced – Yes, they can!…..drum roll please, this was probably the happiest day in my little advocacy journey. The icing on the cake – CMS announced this fantastic news on the last day at IACC’s full meeting. It did not get better than that. I think I hugged everyone from CMS that day.
As a result, I have the highest respect for Marilyn Tavenner and so should every autism family. Without her leadership mixed with kindness and compassion – we would not have this wonderful coverage for all children with autism.
It saddens me that she is leaving CMS next month. I will for sure miss her! And, I thank her so much from the bottom of my heart for listening, validating and always respecting autism families. She is one of a kind!!!
As usual, above words do not reflect any committee, agency or candidate
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate