Alright, so if you read this blog then you know that the red t-shirt wearing gang are trying to amend and change who can diagnose autism.
First, we all know autism is a complex medical condition with many moving parts. It is a mental health condition, it is a neurobiological disorder that affects many parts of the person’s abilities. So then why would we ask for our kids to be diagnosed by anyone just because there are shortages of qualified autism professionals? Good question and logical answer would be – we need to find ways to increase qualified autism professionals through training, recruiting, etc. Not dilute quality and say even a nurse can diagnose. A regular nurse or even a regular pediatrician are not qualified to diagnose autism – period. They need extra and specific training to diagnose this medical condition.
Rep Norton and bad company are trying to add a badly written amendment into HF3172 by asking to amend and lax the current guidelines for those that diagnose autism. In other words, if you have a heart problem and there is shortage of cardiologists – do you let the nurse at the office treat your heart? Heck NO – right. So, why if autism is a medical, mental health and neuro-biological condition being allowed to be diagnosed with people less qualified and some not even qualified to diagnose?
Well – the K street like lobbyist and his red tshirt wearing gang have convinced clueless Norton to write an amendment to do just that. Imagine if a nurse who is clearly not qualified on ADOS, CARS, GARS, etc mis-diagnoses a child. What should that parent do, if they missed critical early intervention because of that mis-diagnoses? Who is responsible for that mistake and negligence?
I really don’t think Norton and bad company think things through to see who it will affect and how it will affect children with autism and their families. They just ask stupid changes that cause more headache and despair.
Another item they are asking is to lower the parental fee which as I have said many times the upper wealthier families can afford and is based on income. Imagine if our state used those funds to increase autism waivers, recruit diverse providers or train more professionals to diagnose.
Finally, they are asking DHS Commissioner to amend or pay ABA under the state EPSDT. Now what now? how is that even possible. No state can cover ABA without approval from CMS. No matter how many times they say that – it is simply impossible. Think about it – if ABA therapy can be provided under EPSDT then why would any state apply for any autism specific waiver, right?
In other words, unless EPSDT is changed in Congress for CMS – states can only provide ABA therapy through HCBS waivers which MN is trying to apply in the next few weeks. Plus if the age is increased over children’s age into adulthood, then the state must apply for the adult autism waiver like PA and other few states have it as of now. So, any change in age would totally fog the autism benefit that passed last year. Seriously, how much more clueless can they get?
Therefore, there is not much else DSH can do. But logic and reason is missing in this group that is bent on hell to take from the poor for the wealthier families. They also say in their amendment something else to keep paying ABA until CMS approves MN DHS’s autism waiver. MN does not have the authority to cover ABA which is why the wealthier families found a way to get it covered by calling it skills training. And, I have explained that double standard here multiple times.
If you remember my advocacy when I started this autism benefit thing couple of years ago, I kept testifying to not call ABA therapy skills training or camel training. To call it what the heck it is and cover it for ALL kids on MA/Medicaid. But of course the red tshirt wearing gang and their lobbyist underestimated us back then and never used to advocate at the Capitol.
At any rate, I am hoping the conferees will use common sense and vote fairly for qualified professionals to diagnose and equality by not decreasing or taking funds from the poor and minorities.
Above words do not represent any agency, candidate or committee.
Thanks!
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate (from every valley, river and mountain)