to
khendricks@aap.org
date
Apr 9, 2008 2:39 PM
subject
Academy Insurance Funding Question Autism, Military, Treatment
mailed-by
gmail.com
Dear Ms. Hendricks,
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Angela Warner. I am a military spouse and the mother of four beautiful children. Two of my children have Autism.
I recently drafted a letter to Secretary of Defense, Dr. Robert Gates outlining proposed and much needed changes to our TRICARE program. These changes would provide our military dependent children with autism continuity of care and access to effective treatment. All of our national autism organizations have endorsed this letter to Secretary Gates. Many of our highest ranking senior military leaders have written and endorsed these changes as well.
I contacted the American Academy of Pediatrics in hopes that the Academy would recognize the seriousness of what our children are enduring and the treatment they have been excluded from receiving, and with hopes that the Academy would endorse. I was given the answer of "no, the academy will not be endorsing".
I am completely dumbfounded by this response from the academy, especially in light of April being the Month of the Military Child (as well as Autism Awareness Month), and the featuring of this on the AAP's website. What better way for the academy to show their true support of our military families and children than to sign this endorsement. I shared my concerns with folks at headquarters in IL.
We all know that our insurance companies (all of them Cigna, BCBS, you name it) do not and have continually refused to cover treatment for autism. This is why parents such as myself have had to work so hard to get autism coverage insurance mandates passed in our individual states. The excuse of the insurance companies is that it will raise premiums. Well, my thought is that it would cut into their profit. Then I have to ask myself, are they so blind and so inept that they are not able to do the simple math and realize the long term monetary consequences to our country if our children and civilian children with autism do not get the effective treatment they need and deserve. I assure you, it will last for generations, and will run into the trillions of dollars.
The only logical reason I could think of as to why the academy would refuse to endorse with no discussion of possible re-drafting, is that the academy receives funding from insurance companies. If the academy does receive funding and endorsed an insurance issue (especially one at the federal policy level) that was in direct conflict with the thought process of funding agency, well, I think it's safe to say that funding would be no more.
So I ask you - does the American Academy of Pediatrics receive funding from any type of insurance company, whether directly or indirectly. The time has come for the academy to be completely transparent to the public and especially to the autism community.
I would ask that you provide me with this information no later than tomorrow afternoon. I am also a writer and am working on an article regarding the military coverage for our children with autism and I have a deadline of Friday for publication. If I do not hear back from you I will only be left to think and believe that my reasoning behind the refusal to endorse is correct.
I appreciate your quick attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Angela Warner
A-CHAMP member
http://www.autismsalute.blogspot.com/
to
autismrr@gmail.com
date
Apr 9, 2008 4:23 PM
subject
Re: Academy Insurance Funding Question Autism, Military, Treatment
mailed-by
aap.org
Dear Ms. Warner:
Thank you for your response. The American Academy of Pediatrics has along history - since its founding in the 1930's - for advocating forhealth care and appropriate insurance coverage for all children.
Autism is an important issue for the Academy among a very long list ofdiseases and conditions that impact all children. The Academy willcontinue to advocate for further research, cures and treatments for allof these conditions and diseases that adversely impact our nationsinfants, children, adolescents and young adults, including autismspectrum disorder.
A very high priority for the Academy is to ensure that all children inwhatever venue they are receiving care have the necessary, comprehensivecoverage that those with insurance need and should have. In addition, ofgreat importance and advocacy is our commitment to address thedevastation of over 9 million children who are completely uninsured.Whether it is a child with autism spectrum disorder or a child withcancer or an ear infection the Academy will not rest until qualityhealth care is available and affordable for all. This may well put us atodds with some but the importance is a core value that you may alsoshare for your own children.
With respect to the other matter that you raised - our funding sourcesare public record. Ms. Warner, the Academy has a diverse source offunding that supports our activities including to advocate for and onbehalf of our members and the children they have under their care. We maintain that diverse portfolio consistent first and foremost with ourmission and commitment to the attainment of optimal physical, mental,and social health for all infants, children, adolescents, and youngadults.
Thank you for contacting us. While the Academy is not able to join your specific letter you have raised an issue that reaffirms our need for acomprehensive system of health care on every level - for all children inmilitary and non-military families.
Karen M. Hendricks
American Academy of Pediatrics
to
Karen Hendricks
date
Apr 9, 2008 4:55 PM
subject
Re: Academy Insurance Funding Question Autism, Military, Treatment
mailed-by
gmail.com
Ms. Hendricks,
With all due respect, you did not directly answer my question. While your financials are public record and I have reviewed them, there are many many donations you claim that are less than less than $100,000 and as such the donating organizations are not listed specifically. Those donations all together for fiscal year '06 amount to $1,372,908.00. I do not think it is an unreasonable request and expectation that the donor information for these amounts be public as well, no matter how time consuming it may be for the accounting department to list them all.
So I ask again, does the American Academy of Pediatrics receive funding from insurance companies? As I've stated, it is time for the academy to be transparent and your initial response is not forth coming.
If the academy truly has the health and well being of all children at heart, it is truly and clearly time for this to be demonstrated by the academy with loud, swift, and strong action on the part of our leaders at the academy. And you have two golden opportunities in front of you. Signing this endorsement, and sitting down with Defeat Autism Now! and getting into the research and treatment options that are recovering thousands of children from the lost world of autism.
Thank you again for your immediate action on this very urgent issue of our children's health and for your anticipated direct answer to my question.
Sincerely,
Angela Warner
A-CHAMP member
http://www.autismsalute.blogspot.com/
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