Autism Discriminatory Coverage Bill Passes MN House Commerce Committee

I signed up to
testify against this bill and was the only Black/Minority person, not a shock.
I should get used to this by now. First, Author of the bill Rep. Norton gave a diluted version of the
legislation stating Medicaid pays for ABA already for low-income families,
despite the fact that it does not because MN DHS does NOT have the authority to cover ABA by CMS. But, no one from the Committee
questioned this or asked DHS folks who were there.

Then we heard
from two Caucasian parents who gave their take of the bill and how CMS, NIMH,
and other Federal agencies recommend it. I am sorry, but as the only one from
Minnesota in the Federal autism committee – that is really false. Again, no one
verified or checked IACC’s autism website or U.S. HHS’s site for autism
which has the latest national autism plan. Recent research stated at best
modest results of up to 25 hours including parent training and not unlimited
hours that can cost up to $100,000 per kid per year. There are about 17,000
kids with autism in Minn – you do the math. In addition, the Chair and overall
the committee were engaging, friendly, sympathetic and gave them an ample time
to make their case. 

Then, they call
my name and after speaking for two minutes, Chair Atkins cuts me off and reminds me my limited
time. There was no engagement, listening or any real interest in my testimony.
Nor did they have any questions or comments about it. Business as usual.

It felt like I
was in Alabama in the 1950’s in Gov Wallace’s committee, except this was 2013 and in
Minn in a leadership that won as little as few hundred votes in districts that
have thousands of minorities. They were overall cold, distant and could care
less about the lack of evidence for the bill, the high cost with no check and
balance or excluding low income families who are mostly minority autism
families. 

My favorite line is when they say;

I care about
disparities because I have been working on it for decades. Clearly whatever you
have been doing is not working, given that Minn is at the bottom of the pit of
health disparity including autism.

My family member
is a minority. Sen. Thurmond also had an African American Daughter,
yet voted against all major civil rights policies.

My best friend is
Black, only if I had a penny every-time I heard that.

I understand your
anger (except when Caucasians do it, its called frustration – us, we are
angry). Somehow these policy makers don’t seem to think their policies have
created disparity in autism. In other words, we should take whatever leftover
they give us, process it, digest it, like it and thank them for it. 

Great! Your votes
at work.

Thanks!