Health

24 HEALTH • September 21, 2015 30 Glennie St. Worcester MA 01605 508.791.8740 | Worcpt.com The Treatment You Need. The Care You Deserve. Live a h ealth i er, fitter & fu ller li fe With Wo rcester Physi cal Th erapy We're not your typical gym. In fact, we're not really a gym at all. As a fitness and wellness center, we specialize in total health. From injury screenings and physical therapy, to transitional fitness programs, independent fitness and targeted strength training, we're all about helping our clients live a healthier, fitter and fuller life. Our team of exercise physiologists are experts at improving and maintaining whole physical health, no matter your starting point. Call Us Today or Visit Us to Get Your Membership Started MENTION PROMO CODE: SAFEPERSONALFITNESS-HJ & GET 10% OFF ANY FITNESS SERVICE Accessing autism treatment O ne of the most terrifying expe- riences as a parent is learning your child has a serious dis- ease. Imagine then finding out there is medical treatment that can signifi- cantly help, but your insurance won't cover it. This was the reality I faced when my daughter was diagnosed with autism 16 years ago. Each time the Autism Insurance Resource Center receives a call from a parent who says, "My child was diag- nosed with autism yesterday " that knife in my heart twists again. But today there is coverage for medical treatment. It's not always easy to access, but with information and sup- port, many are accessing life-changing treatments for autism that were nearly impossible to obtain a few years ago. Massachusetts is one of 40 states that have passed legislation over the past decade requiring insurance to cover medically necessary treatments for autism. Previously, only Indiana had a law, and insurance often exclud- ed any coverage for autism treatment. I am proud to have led the advocacy efforts for the law in Massachusetts, which took effect in 2011. Our mandate is one of the most comprehensive in the country, requir- ing insurers to cover evidence-based treatments and services that are pre- scribed by licensed physicians or psy- chologists. This broad coverage includes a range of treatments: coun- seling, and behavioral, occupational and speech therapies. Almost before the ink had dried on the groundbreaking new law, we rec- ognized the tremendous work that lay ahead in implementing it. The University of Massachusetts Medical School established the Autism Insurance Resource Center, an infor- mation and technical assistance resource that helps families access cov- erage for treatments. We help thou- sands of families each year. It's one thing to pass a strong law, but quite another to translate that into coverage. Issues confronting families include figuring out whether their health insurance is even subject to the new law (state-regulated policies are included, federally regulated are not). That's just the beginning. Therapists and other providers, many of whom had never submitted insurance claims before, find themselves dealing with different insurance carriers, prior authorizations, billing codes and copays. Any of these is a potential bar- rier to accessing treatment. Collectively, it can be overwhelming and hard to know even where to start. "Am I Covered?" is an easy-to-use online screening tool we created with INDEX, a UMass Medical School technology development group. It determines if a person's insurance is subject to the state's autism insurance law. For policies that don't include cov- erage, it outlines alternatives for accessing treatment. In some cases, separate plans can be purchased for people with autism, or they may qual- ify for state Medicaid benefits. Insurance is complex, and even with robust coverage, people with autism face other obstacles accessing treat- ment. We empower families with valu- able tools and resources. One mom recently wrote us: "It truly takes a village to raise a child with special needs and if it weren't for people like you, our family and fami- lies like ours would not be where we are today. Every day we think of you and are so grateful and appreciative for the love you show to so many kid- dos who struggle to find their own voice and to parents who struggle to find the strength to advocate for their own children." Sixteen years ago, I was a parent with a sick child and an insurance card that provided almost no access to treatment. The situation today is much different. As the same mother wrote, for many families, access to insurance "is an integral reason" children have the opportunity to live at home, stay in the community and remain school. We are privileged to play a key role in this, and invite those needing help to contact us. Amy Weinstock is director of the Autism Insurance Resource Center at the University of Massachusetts Medical School's Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, and an instructor in the medical school's Department of Psychiatry. CONSUMER ADVICE By Amy K. Weinstock

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