Has your child experienced seclusion and restraint in school?

Arzu — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:23:48 +0000

The “Keeping All Students Safe Act,” introduced by Senator Tom Harkin, and Congressman George Miller will protect children nationwide from restraint and seclusion in schools. A Government Accountability Office study found hundreds of cases of alleged abuse and death from restraint and seclusion in school. They included a young teen who hanged himself in

[Continue reading...] Has your child experienced seclusion and restraint in school?

WAA Has Sued Medicaid Agency over denial of Behavioral Health Services

Arzu — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:53:03 +0000

Children with Autism File Complaint Against State Medicaid Agency to Challenge Denial of Behavioral Health Services

Seattle, WA – April 30, 2012, Washington Autism Alliance & Advocacy(WAA) has sued the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA), the state Medicaid agency, to challenge the state’s refusal to cover medically necessary behavioral health treatments for children with

[Continue reading...] WAA Has Sued Medicaid Agency over denial of Behavioral Health Services

MPC cuts for kids lawsuit, again! What can I do now?

Arzu — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:07:12 +0000

Litigation is seldom ever a quick solution. While we await the outcome of the ongoing MPC litigation, this Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) document by Susan Kas DRW attorney is intended to provide you with solutions on what to do in the meanwhile to protect the wellbeing of your child. 1. If a child isn’t due for

[Continue reading...] MPC cuts for kids lawsuit, again! What can I do now?

Sat. Apr. 21,11am-1pm: Meet with attorneys to learn about your child’s MPC hours

Arzu — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:04:15 +0000

Dear WAA families,

Some of you whose children have been receiving Medicaid Personal Care (MPC) services, have been telling us your child’s MPC hours have been reduced in your last CARE assessment. Most of you however have been telling us your children who desperately need the services are not getting ANY paid services. On

[Continue reading...] Sat. Apr. 21,11am-1pm: Meet with attorneys to learn about your child’s MPC hours

New DDD Eligibility Policy affecting people autism

Arzu — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:38:59 +0000

NEW DDD ELIGIBILITY POLICY AFFECTING PEOPLE WITH AUTISM, EPILEPSY AND OTHER CONDITIONS WHO WERE DENIED OR TERMINATED FROM DDD

Effective April 16, 2012, the Division of Developmental Disabilities has a new Management Bulletin (MB) reinterpreting eligibility rules that affect DDD clients or applicants with autism, epilepsy, or other conditions similar to intellectual

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Promising Week For Autism

Arzu — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 23:07:42 +0000

On March 23rd a federal judge in Florida ruled that Florida children on Medicaid are entitled to ABA therapy through age 21 (provided the child’s doctor has deemed ABA to be medically necessary for that child). The case is K.G. v. Dudek.

On March 27th, a King County Superior Court ruled against Premera Blue Cross,

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Judge orders Medicaid to cover autism treatment it had rejected

Arzu — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:29:23 +0000

A Florida federal trial court decision (orally) on Friday found that ABA therapy is not experimental, but rather the standard of care for treating autism and medically necessary under the federal Medicaid EPSDT standard.

The judge’s order isn’t just a victory for Florida’s Medicaid Eligible children with autism but could set a precedent for cases

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Class Action Lawsuit May Affect Your Rights

Arzu — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:28:41 +0000

D.F. et. al v. Washington State Health Care Authority (WHCA) is a class action lawsuit filed in 2010 by families whose disabled children have been denied behavioral therapies by the Health Care Authority’s self-funded insurance plans.

Although a class had been certified in this case since Sept. 29th, 2011, no notice has been sent

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Safety in numbers, connect your networks towards greater stability

Arzu — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:03:26 +0000

As drivers become more accustomed to seeing walkers and cyclists on the road, they become more attentive and cautious overall. Instead of “get out of the way” campaigns, we now see messages like “THINK, Slow Down!” or “Kill your Speed, Not a Child”, that place the onus on drivers to increase their awareness of walkers and

[Continue reading...] Safety in numbers, connect your networks towards greater stability

Action needed for our military kids

Arzu — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:06:18 +0000

Military spouses risk multiple deployments in combat zones so that their children back home could continue to receive treatment. In a recent Congressional briefing on Caring for Military Children with Autism, Lieutenant Colonel Scott Campbell, father of 13 year old with autism, testified he is happy he was diagnosed with lung cancer because that

[Continue reading...] Action needed for our military kids