Friday, April 03, 2009

How Missouri Republicans celebrated World Autism Day – or – Didn’t I say that not all Fuck Yous are Delayed…

A bitch has been involved in a piece of legislation here in Missouri that would require insurance companies to cover treatment for autism spectrum disorder. This bill was opposed by insurance companies but a bitch had hope that the power of the autism coalition and the voters it represents would overcome the entrenched power of the insurance lobby.

A bitch’s hopes were dashed yesterday
…on World Autism Day…when Missouri Republicans in the House Rules Committee refused to send the bill to the floor for debate. The Senate’s bill is also curiously hung up in committee.

On World Autism Day, House Speaker Ron Richard threatened to appoint a special committee to study the issue...which is pretty much a death sentence for this legislation.

So, Missouri Republicans celebrated World Autism Day by pretending to be confused by the fact that 1 out of 150 children have autism spectrum disorder… 1 out of 150 families can legally be denied insurance coverage for proven treatments that radically change people’s lives and futures…1 out of 150 families must now wage a losing war against insurance companies, who take our money and then deny our loved ones coverage.

Just when you think they can’t get any more panderific to special interests, they show you that they’ve just gotten started.

Shit!

14 comments:

JoyMama said...

Feeling your pain - we've got a silent mysterious hangup in committee on Wisconsin's version of a similar bill. Which, if it comes to the floor, will almost certainly have the votes. But we can't pass it if it doesn't come to the floor... Argghh.

By the way -- hi. I'm a long-time lurker, first-time commenter.

Shark-Fu said...

Hi JoyMama! I think this mess is the only way these folks can keep these bills from passing. Argghh indeed!!

AOB said...

I'll wager that if one of those elected morons had an autistic child there would be more money floating than Lays chips in the grocery store.

I know someone who took her son to one of the meetings when he was having a 'bad day'. She got her help after they pried him off of the social worker that he was trying to bite.

I guess there's nothing like 'the experience'.

It's a shame really that the people that get elected are called 'leaders'...more like the village idiots that got loose.

tnt5150 said...

So far the bill in Minnesota is moving along nicely..keep your figers crossed!

Flashtrigger said...

Words can't express my frustration...sometimes I wonder why there's such a thing as insurance for many of us. Oh, that's right: so I can spend $1000 a year to get my blood monitored instead of $3000. Nice. And honestly, I'm one of the lucky ones.

Assrot said...

Maybe the Republicans own the insurance companies. Those companies only take in money. When it comes time to pay, they file bankruptcy and whine for a bailout.

I wish I could help. I'll say a prayer for your brother just in case someone is actually listening and actually cares anymore.

Joe

PissedOffPencil said...

I feel your frustration and it makes realize even more how lucky I am living in a country where the government handles much of the issues on healthcare.

Unknown said...

I am so sorry Shark Fu..its a friggin travesty and the Rethugs love mucking it up.

Here in Cali, the Governator changed all the rules for Workers Compensation. He of course talked to lots of Ag businesses before it total trashed the WC division by giving all the employers exactly what they wanted.. Ag company employees get hurt more than any other occupation.

Then, two years later..a report showed his changes didn't save anyone any fucking money..it actually cost MORE!

Assholes....

Anonymous said...

I really want to keep fighting but am getting tired. How do I keep up my strength against these companies who have taken over the government/the laws?

libhom said...

This shows two reasons why we need to pass HR 676, the single payer healthcare legislation in Congress. First, insurance companies don't provide the healthcare they should to people who have "coverage."

Second, big money campaign contributions from the insurance companies and HMOs are seriously corrupting our political process.

Anonymous said...

We had a similar bill- Act 62- passed here in PA that is supposed to go into practice in July of this year. HOWEVER, no one knows how things are going work...what credentials will therapists who work with kids with as ASD need in order to bill private insurance? How can individual providers get set up to bill private insurance. While I am happy the bill was passed, the actual execution of it seems like a nightmare. So I hope that the bill does pass in your state and when it does, I hope to heaven someone figures out how to make it work--because I think it is going to be a disaster here!
-Jane in Pa

Anonymous said...

The problem with this bill is that it is socialism. Ultimately you are asking your fellow citizens to pay for your childs problem. The insurance company won't be the one paying for this it will be all of the people who pay insurance premiums. This would be best done with a charity where people give of their own free will not the government politicians confiscating personal money and in the proceess taking a cut for themselves and buying votes.

Shark-Fu said...

The problem with that outlook, other than the inaccurate use of the term socialism, is that we have over 200 years of history documenting how charity addressed the mentally disabled and it is not pretty.

I find it fascinating that the same people who fear death panels from their government are gleefully willing to toss the most vulnerable among us to the wolves and whims of "charity".

If you had an ounce of decency you'd be ashamed...

Unknown said...

Right-fucking-on Shark Fu! It's amazing how they work shit out ain't it?

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