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This just in… Gov signs autism bill

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Illinois

* 1:29 PM - Either Gov. Blagojevich is trying to show that he is still capable of governing, or he wanted to start doing some decent things before he steps aside or down, but the governor today signed the autism bill…

December 12, 2008

Notice of Bill Action [from the Office of Legislative Affairs]

Approved

SB 0934 AN ACT concerning health.

The bill mandates insurance companies to provide “individuals under 21 years of age coverage for autism spectrum disorders to the extent that the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders [who] are not already covered by the policy or plan.”

* Per a commenter’s suggestion, click here to see all the bills currently awaiting the governor’s action.

* 1:57 PM - The press release just arrived…

Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed Senate Bill 934 into law, providing insurance coverage to parents of children with autism. The new law, which received overwhelming support from the Illinois General Assembly, will provide coverage for all individuals under age 21 for the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) up to $36,000 per year.

“Families of children with autism have a right to access the treatment their children need and today that has finally become a reality in Illinois,” said Governor Blagojevich. “I have continued to fight for this cause and I am pleased to sign this bill into law today.”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 1:32 pm

Comments

Rich,

How many other bills are out there? What else can he do to show work, without showing his face?

Comment by St. Lou Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 1:39 pm
He has about 15 more bills on his desk. Probably another dozen or so haven’t been sent over by either the house or senate. The senate sent him 6 this morning. Trying to keep him busy I guess.

Comment by Been There Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 1:41 pm
Has anyone started a pool for picking the exact date and time when Blago’s gone, either by resignation, impeachment, injunctive relief from the Supreme Court, etc., etc.?

Comment by BehindTheScenes Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 1:43 pm
Is he trying to show proof to the Supreme Court that he is not disabled and able to perform the duties of the governor’s office?

Comment by Elliot Ness Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 1:43 pm
I was suprised to find that he was signing bills, but that is his job (or one of them), to act on legislation passed by the General Assembly. And he will continue to do his job, apparently. Another up day.

Comment by Captain Flume Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 1:45 pm
Where’s the splashy press conference with the shield(hrm), legions of children between him and the press announcing yet another victory by our completely capable health care for all seeking governor?

Comment by 618er Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 1:47 pm
As someone who has ripped the Gov on many occasions, I will have to hand it to him on signing this bill. I have friends with kids with autism, and I have first hand seen and heard their struggles.

You did good on this bill Governor.

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 1:49 pm
The release on the signing of the autism bill does not have Lucio listed as a press contact. Hmmm?

Comment by Captain Flume Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 1:50 pm
CF, that wasn’t a press release. It was from the legislative office.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 1:51 pm
My copy was labeled “press release”

Comment by Captain Flume Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:00 pm
In a feeble attempt to get some good press before leaving his office for the Friday drive home time… he did a good thing.

Now if he do another good thing…
Don’t come back to the office on Monday
OR EVER>

Comment by curious george Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:07 pm
Here’s the problem: Why didn’t the Gov. sign it when it hit his desk on Nov. 25? What was the asking price to sign it? (This may sound cynical, but think of the Children’s Hospital grant that was held up.)

This can now be asked of every official act he takes. That is the basis of the LG’s request today, and it is why he needs to step aside and let Quinn take the reins.

It was a decent action to take, but how can we have any confidence that it was signed based on it’s merits?

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:08 pm
It seems to me that Rod is championing this bill in an opportunistic manner–indeed, the same manner in which George Ryan became an instant convert in opposition to the death penalty. Is this his way of trying to bank goodwill for future criminal proceedings? As the father of an autistic child, I am grateful that he signed this bill. That being said, it does nothing to erase his bad acts of the last few weeks and the past several years.

Comment by Jake from Elwood Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:10 pm
How nice of the Gov and the GA to buy votes.

A study from 2006 shows there were 9,346 children with autism in Illinois.

9,346 multiplied by $36,000.00 means people with helath insurance are going to have to pay additional premiums in Illinois of $336,456,000.00 per year from now on.

Assuming for the sake of argument that there are 2 million health insurance policies in Illinois, everyone’s premiums just went up $168 per year.

Comment by True Observer Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:11 pm
oops, I meant AG, not LG

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:13 pm
Gov. Blagojevich should commute sentences of the 25 men incarcerated based on confessions obtained by torture.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:16 pm
Well why are we ok with him signing bills right now, while not believing he should still be governor? Is it just because we like this bill? Is he starting with the autism bill — just to warm us up? I’m afraid he might be going somewhere that will mean having to undo the autism bill later. If we are bold enough to do that.

Comment by Keep Smiling Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:17 pm
True Observer. Nice to see you passed 3rd grade math. Not all kids with autism will need $36,000 in medical care per year. My sister has a child with autism but while I am sure she has higher than normal bills for him, they are no where near that amount. Probably just a few more than normal visits to the doc. But what this bill does is allow those that have more severe cases to be able to treat their kids.

Comment by Been There Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:17 pm
True
where have you been?
Meanwhile it is surprising Blagoof did not try to sleaze this issue up some more by dragging those families back to another razzle dazzle event.
Maybe they finally told him to stick it
Guess this proves he is incapable of governing
BTW where is Eddie Reed when we need him?

Comment by 2ConfusedCrew Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:22 pm
As a mom with a child with autism I am very thrilled, but I am also worried. Can this be overturned and could that happen? I pay $3,000 a month on therapy for him and that 36,000 a year would be helpful but I am just worried.

Comment by Boscobud Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:23 pm
T.O.: If insurance companies are required by the State of Illinois to cover birth control, shingles vaccinations and prescription inhalants, I think maybe it’s ok for them to provide necessary therapies to kids on the autism spectrum.
Sorry Rich for straying off the topic.

Comment by Jake from Elwood Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:29 pm
No one argues that this relief is not necessary or reasonable.

The question is why it is not coming out of the general revenues instead of policy holders.

Also, if medical vendors know that $36,000.00 is available, you can bet that they will render the additional services only they know are necessary.

Comment by True Observer Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:32 pm
Considering the actions of this governor, one must wonder what consideration he might have just been paid to sign this today. Think it couldn’t happen now that he’s been arrested? What other politician would have conducted the sale of a Senate seat on an open telephone line. AFTER he knew the prosecution was closing in.

Comment by NimROD Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:33 pm
“Hello Governor?”
“That check cleared your account.”
“Proceed with the signing…”

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:39 pm
How quickly will this law start. January 2010? Or January 2009?

Comment by Boscobud Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 2:43 pm
Hey, he’s earned no trust, but let’s at least give Blago a bit of respect. In no way did he have to do it. If this week causes him to clear the backlog of bills on his desk, look at real clemency petitions (not just those of select wannabe principals of non-functioning schools), and other duties that he’s been neglecting, I’m all in favor. No one will believe him or cut him any slack, but some good things might get done. Why complain?

Comment by South Side Mike Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 3:01 pm
Boscobud, read the bill. Please don’t ask questions like that. The bill is linked above. Go read it.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 3:07 pm
There is no sugardaddy who would bankroll a bill like this. This is Rod trying to bank mitigating acts of goodwill with whatever federal judge or jury is ultimately assigned to try this matter. George Ryan did the same thing with his death penalty stance. Both are utterly transparent.

Comment by Jake from Elwood Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 3:10 pm
Rich,

I am not a lawyer and filtering through all the legal goop is something I just don’t know how to do. I can change diapers on a moving object and play two different games at the same time, but reading through all that goop makes my kids poopy diaper look clean.

Comment by Boscobud Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 3:23 pm
Where is my kitty?

Comment by Boscobud Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 3:24 pm
It became law when he signed it.

Comment by Laura Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 3:27 pm
Nothing more than a wolf in sheeps clothing. You can be sure there were strings attached somewhere.

Comment by Macoupin County Kid Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 3:33 pm
Even in his situation you want to keep some people happy. DeLeo is one of those people.

Comment by Just Saying Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 4:29 pm
Doesn’t Blago has a website he could issue some type of statement. By the way, is anyone on suicide watch? I hear he might be the type to lose it that way.

Comment by Observer Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 4:52 pm
On the autism bill, Jake said, “There is no sugardaddy who would bankroll a bill like this.” Sad and sorry but spot on, which is why I really admire the parent advocates who got this done.

True Observer, if you count long-term costs as opposed to those that accrue in the near term, this bill is actually a money saver. Early intervention and therapy costs less than delayed, remedial and institutional treatment later.

Signing the autism bill was the right thing to do.

Comment by Suzanne Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 6:15 pm
sorry to rain on parade — but after we’ve heard the jaded reasons he operates, I’ll just offer that the sponsor of this bill is DeLeo.
so, while I hope he signed this bill out of the goodness of his heart, could be a “please don’t turn on me Jimmy.”

By the way, there is another bill that should pass that will give unlimited insurance coverage (for therapies) to kids not only with autism, but cerebral palsy, d. syndrome & other conditions.

Let’s hope this bill will pass too & let’s hope these bills don’t get caught in a legal mess.

Comment by just sayin' Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 7:15 pm
I’ve been trying not to reply since my son is on the Autistic Spectrum. This is actually the one and only time I can say “Thank You.” Autism Spectrum Disorders are considered as a mental health issue. The other mom is lucky that at least she has therapies for her child. We were told if we had an actual, signed diagnosis then we would not be able to get insurance.

Mental health is usually only covered at 50 percent after a hefty deductible. While I also suspect his motives, this is one where we need to move on.

There are larger issues at stake. Even though he has long considered himself a savior for children and proven how base he really is, let’s just move on.

Comment by IlValleyGal Friday, Dec 12, 08 @ 8:13 pm
Autism, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Disorder are all potential pitfalls when a child doesn’t have proper child development. I think all families should be wary of this.

Comment by konnie Tuesday, Dec 16, 08 @ 11:17 pm