***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE*** Roberts, Voss & Advocates Commentary on Advancement of Bill Providing Coverage of Autism Treatments

***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE***

ROBERTS, VOSS & ADVOCATES COMMENTARY ON ADVANCEMENT OF BILL PROVIDING COVERAGE OF AUTISM TREATMENTS

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., today issued a multimedia package on legislation he sponsored with Assembly members Joan M. Voss and Vincent Prieto to require health insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary treatments of disorders on the autism spectrum.

The measure (A-2238) follows the 2007 enactment of seven laws that made New Jersey a national leader in providing support to families with autistic members.  It would require health insurers to cover the expenses of treatments deemed medically necessary for autism-spectrum disorders, which include Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's Disorder and Rhett's Syndrome.  Insurance coverage would be extended to physical, speech and occupational therapies, as well as behavioral interventions.

The Speaker and Assembly members were joined by internationally renowned autism advocate Bob Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks and several New Jersey families who had depleted their personal savings to provide treatment options for autistic family members.

The multimedia package consists of a video press release on the legislation, audio of same, photos from the hearing and a transcript of comments from the Speaker, Assemblywoman Voss and Mr. Wright.

The video can be accessed directly via our Web site - www.assemblydems.com - or by clicking here.

The audio file is available upon request.

The photos can be accessed via the Assembly Democrats Facebook page or by clicking here.

A transcript of comments is appended below:

Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. (D-Camden):

"Madam Chairman, the bill that you have before you today represents, I believe, the most significant piece of unfinished business that we need to confront.  If this bill is released from this committee today and approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor, New Jersey will be the 11th state in the nation to provide mandatory treatment for autistic individuals, with respect to behavioral intervention, occupational, speech and physical therapy."

Bob Wright, co-founder Autism Speaks:

"Here in New Jersey and across the country, families are literally going broke trying to provide their children with the critical autism therapies they need and deserve."

Assemblywoman Joan M. Voss (D-Bergen), parent of a child with autism:

"People who have autism and Asperger's need therapy.  They have to deal with anger management issues.  They have to deal with depression.  Many of them have to take a great deal of medication.  We cannot afford to be pennywise and pound foolish.  We have to think about the future.  If we get the services our children need now, they will become productive adults in the future, as my son has."

Roberts:

"It provides speech, physical therapy and occupational therapy for folks with all kinds of developmental disabilities, which is important.  And it also provides this early intervention behavioral therapy for the first time.  That's, I think, the key.  The key service if you will.  Because, as I've said, it's been demonstrated that roughly one half of the children who, at an early age have access to that therapy, go into first grade in a fully functioning classroom setting."

Wright:

"New Jersey has done a lot for autistic families and children and is one of the leading states in the country, without any question.  So this will be a very important step forward for all people with autism and their families and friends."

Roberts:

"I'm hopeful that within just a matter of weeks, New Jersey will become the 11th state to provide for autistic children in our state and make sure that they have the treatment that they need so that they can become fully functioning adults."

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