MI Autism Insurance
WE ALL KNOW SOMEONE ……

“Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.”
Confucius

Confucius
A battle that began almost six years ago to stop insurance companies from discriminating against children and families facing Autism has now reached it’s peak. The Michigan House of Representatives has passed the bills and they’ve been waiting on the Senate for almost 17 months. If the bills are not put up for a vote and passed before December 2nd these bills will be officially dead and the journey that started six years ago will have to begin again from scratch. At this point it comes down to a Caucus meeting on November 30th where it will be decided …. not if these bills should be passed … but simply if the Republican Caucus will allow it to go to the Senate floor for a vote.
The resources below have been compiled to help you, help these children and their families. Please check out the links below. Watch the videos. Listen to the interviews and then, if you care about this issue at all follow the steps on the bottom of this page to help encourage these Senators to at least give this bill a chance to be voted on.
Thank you,
Steve Bockmann
On Monday at 10:30am I will be speaking with Frank Beckmann on “The Frank Beckmann Show” on WJR 760 concerning the need to get this Autism Insurance Legislation to the floor for a vote. Click the WJR logo to go to the WJR website where you can listen live to the interview.

Our Interview on WWJ News Radio 950 on Nov. 27th – click to listen
Kathy Angerer – Majority Floor Leader For The MI House – Explains Autism Insurance Legislation
- What IS Autism Insurance?
- Why does this matter to every Michigan Taxpayer?
- Why does it have to pass by December 2nd?
Two Fantastic Websites To Find Additional Information On The Legislation
Facebook Groups/People To Follow

Autism Insurance In The News
- Guest column: Autism insurance reform warrants support | MLive.com
- Calley says autism patients need insurance – theoaklandpress.com
- MI NPR Radio: Brian Calley & Supporters push Senate to pass bill preventing autism insurance discrimination (2010-11-24)
- Lt. Gov.-elect Joins Lates Push For Autism Bills: Fat May Hinge On GOPCrain’s article.pdf – Powered by Google Docs
- Guest Column: Michigan needs to change laws to cover autism – Opinion – Heritage Newspapers
- Letter: Autism insurance will save money | detnews.com | The Detroit News
- Tony Earle Chairman & CEO DTE Energy – “Covering Autism Saves Kids, Saves Money
- For Some Dads, Everyday Is FATHER’S DAY
- Cost of treating autism shocking – MonroeNews.com
- Parents Fight For Autism Insurance Coverage – Detroit News

Presentations

Some Of The Stuff We’ve Written On The Subject
Videos

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO – RIGHT NOW – TO HELP THESE KIDS?
(THANK YOU TO AUTISM INSURANCE IN MICHIGAN FOR THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS)
- Why Does This Legislation Need To Be Passed By December 2nd – what’s the rush?
If you want to have even MORE of an impact, please take a moment and call Senators below who are still undecided or have told us they will not vote in favor of it.
Jason Allen
- 517-373-2413
- senjallen@senate.michigan.gov
- counties of Grand Traverse, Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Mackinac and Chippewa
Patricia Birkholz
- 517-373-3447
- senpbirkholz@senate.michigan.gov
- the counties of Allegan, Barry, Eaton
- 517-373-2417
- senmbishop@senate.michigan.gov
- Oakland county and includes: Addison Twp, Auburn Hills city, Independence Twp, Keego Harbor city, Lake Angelus city, Oakland Twp, Orion Twp, Oxford Twp, Pontiac city, Rochester city, Rochester Hills city, Sylvan Lake city and Clarkston city
- 517-373-5932
- sencbrown@senate.michigan.gov
- the counties of St. Joseph, Branch, Hillsdale and Lenawee
- 517-373-1758
- senncassis@senate.michigan.gov
- Oakland county and includes: Commerce Twp, Highland Twp, Holly Twp, Lyon Twp, Milford Twp, Northville city (part), Novi city, Novi Twp, Orchard Lake city, Rose Twp, South Lyon city, Walled Lake city, West Bloomfield Twp, White Lake Twp and Wixom city
- 517-373-3760
- senacropsey@senate.michigan.gov
- the counties of Clinton, Ionia, Montcalm and Isabella
- 517-373-2420
- senvgarcia@senate.michigan.gov
- the counties of Livingston, Shiawassee and the southern part of Ingham County. The Ingham County portion includes Bunkerhill Twp, Leslie city, Leslie Twp, Mason city, Stockbridge Twp and Vevay Twp
- 517-373-0793
- sentgeorge@senate.michigan.gov
- all of Kalamazoo county plus Paw Paw and Antwerp Townships in Van Buren county
- 517-373-7708
- senjgilbert@senate.michigan.gov
- includes Lapeer and St. Clair counties
- 517-373-1801
- senbhardiman@senate.michigan.gov
- 517-373-0797
- SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov
- part of Kent County and includes: Ada Twp, Algoma Twp, Alpine Twp, Bowne Twp, Byron Twp, Caledonia Twp, Cannon Twp, Cedar Springs city, Courtland Twp, East Grand Rapids city, Gaines Twp, Grand Rapids Twp, Nelson Twp, Oakfield Twp, Plainfield Twp, Rockford city, Solon Twp, Spencer Twp, Tyrone Twp, Walker city and Wyoming city
- 517-373-6960
- senrjelinek@senate.michigan.gov
- includes all of Berrien and Cass counties and all of Van Buren county except Paw Paw and Antwerp Townships
- 517-373-1760
- SenRKahn@senate.michigan.gov
- includes Saginaw and Gratiot counties
- 517-373-6920
- senwkuipers@senate.michigan.gov
- includes all of Ottawa County and Sparta Township and Grandville City in Kent County
- 517-373-1725
- senmmcmanus@senate.michigan.gov
- includes the counties of Leelanau, Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Roscommon, Clare, Osceola, Lake and Mecosta
- 517-373-7670
- senasanborn@senate.michigan.gov
- located in northern Macomb County and includes: Armada Twp, Bruce Twp, Chesterfield Twp, Harrison Twp, Lenox Twp, Macomb Twp, Memphis city (part), Mount Clemens city, New Baltimore city, Ray Twp, Richmond city (part), Richmond Twp, Shelby Twp and Washington Twp
- 517-373-7946
- ofctstamas@senate.michigan.gov
- includes the counties of Alcona, Alpena, Crawford, Gladwin, Iosco, Midland, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Otsego
- 517-373-2406
- senlbrater@senate.michigan.gov
- Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti
- 517- 373-0990
- seniclark-coleman@senate.michigan.gov
- District 3 – Wayne County
- 517- 373-7840
- senmprusi@senate.michigan.gov
- includes Gogebic, Iron, Ontonagon, Delta, Dickinson, Keweenaw, Houghton, Baraga, Marquette, Alger, Luce, Schoolcraft, Menominee
- 517- 373-7315
- senmswitalski@senate.michigan.gov
- Roseville, Utica, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township
2) Follow up your phone call with a quick, personalized e-mail. Here is a link to a FACT PAGE about the legislation. Please use these facts to support your own personal story. Again, to have even a more effective impact, please send emails to the Senators in the regions above who are on the fence or opposed.
3) Join AIM and other parents from around the state next week in Lansing! We plan to be there early in the morning on 11/30 (by 8:45am) as the Republican caucus decides whether or not to hold a vote. If they do decide to hold a vote, it could be that same morning, the following day on Dec. 1st, or the last day of the session, Dec. 2nd. We will be there to see that the job gets done. If the caucus decides to NOT hold a vote on 11/30, we will be there talking to Senators, pulling them off the floor, and making our presence known. Please join us in this very critical advocacy action.
If you are coming from out of town, and would like to spend the night, please feel free to email Ann for more details and suggested places to stay in town. Some of us are planning on staying overnight on the 30th for sure.
We would like to see as many Senate districts from around the state represented on 11/30 in Lansing. If you plan to come, please let us know who you are and where you are coming from, in case we need you to speak to your Senator that day. Some legislators only want to talk to their own constituents. Please take a moment and fill out this form if you plan on coming to Lansing on the 30th, 1st or 2nd (as needed) so we have a good idea of which districts are being represented. If you don’t get a chance to fill out the form, please feel free to come anyways, but look for an AIM committee member to sign in with and receive a name tag.
AIM t-shirts will be available to wear on 11/30 (as sizes are available). If you already have an AIM t-shirt, please wear it.
Things could change by the minute and we will be sending out regular communications as we learn more over the coming days. Please stand ready to take action. We are in the closing miles of the marathon, heading up heartbreak hill. Now more than ever, we must put one foot in front of the other.
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