The Legislature sent to Gov. Sam Brownback a bill Wednesday mandating for the first time that insurance companies serving Kansans include coverage in health policies for diagnosis and treatment of autistic children. Despite years of opposition from state-regulated insurance companies, a compromise was crafted among parents, legislators and lobbyists to begin limited coverage for children with the complex brain development disorder. Autism is frequently characterized by communication challenges, difficulties with social interaction and repetitive behaviors. Sen. Rob Olsen, an Olathe Republican and chairman of the Senate's insurance committee, said hardships experienced by families caring for the state's estimated 8,000 autistic children and the fact too many kids didn't receive therapy early in life conspired to break the logjam. The insurance mandate, he said, could have long-term economic benefits to the state by making these children more independent as adults. "We're showing them we care about their families," Olsen said. "I believe we're going to save money as a state by doing this." The Senate voted 38-2 on House Bill 2744. Representatives in the House, some of whom described the measure as a delicate compromise among vested interests, adopted the identical bill 114-3 in March, meaning the insurance legislation moves to … Continue reading →

LAS VEGAS - Several valley organizations will show their support for people with autism. Wednesday, April 2 marks Autism Awareness Day. National numbers show one in 68 kids have autism. That represents an increase of 30 percent from 2012, when one in 88 kids possessed the disease. The statistics may not mean a larger number of people have autism. Doctors can better recognize the symptoms of autism then they did five years ago, leading to increased diagnoses. Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) says it fields calls from many parents of recently diagnosed kids. FEAT says 6,000 students in Clark County had autism last year. While many parents and kids may struggle with the diagnosis at first, FEAT and several other non-profits say they possess the resources to help autistic children lead functional lives. Approximately 40 percent of autistic people have average to above average intellectual abilities. Individual education plans are keys to kids' success. "For example, learning to tie a shoe - we break that down in simple steps and make sure they master each step before you move on to something more difficult. Our kids can learn anything. They just need to be taught in a different way," … Continue reading →

Philippine Daily Inquirer Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman. FILE PHOTO MANILA, PhilippinesThe Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will include autism awareness as a supplemental topic in the Family Development Sessions (FDS) for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in April. Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said Monday this would promote the understanding of autism, its detection and treatment among poor families, especially those who may not be aware their children have the disability. Autism is a physiological, not a psychological, condition, according to Soliman. It affects how a person perceives the world around him and how he reacts to it, she said. Soliman said the DSWD and Autism Hearts Foundation (AHF) will sign a memorandum of agreement on the initiative to mark the celebration of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) Tuesday. She said the AHF will orient FDS resource persons composed of city and municipal 4P links and other DSWD staff on autism detection and intervention. As an agency tasked with ensuring the welfare of mentally challenged children, the DSWD also provides protective and rehabilitative services to children with autism. As of December 2013, 28 children with autism were being served in DSWD residential care facilities such as … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise DALLAS March 31, 2014 UTSouthwestern Medical Center has launched a state-of-the-art telemedicine program that will extend immediate access to UTSouthwesterns nationally recognized stroke care during the crucial time period when treatment is needed for a patient of an ischemic stroke, or clot in one of the brains blood vessels. Partner hospitals most of which are outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area can now consult in real time with physicians from UTSouthwesterns Robert D. Rogers Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center, one of only 67 advanced comprehensive centers in the country certified by The Joint Commission. In stroke care, time is so critical. With the launch of the UTSouthwestern telestroke network, our neurology team can provide expert evaluations and treatment decisions for patients located hundreds of miles away, often within minutes, said Dr. Mark Goldberg, Chairman of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, who directs the Beatrice Menne Haggerty Center for Research on Brain Injury and Repair in Stroke. UTSouthwesterns telestroke remote partners include Good Shepherd Medical Center locations in Kilgore, Marshall, and Linden. While the majority of partner hospitals are located in rural areas, local hospitals in need of emergency access to vascular neurologists, such as Texas General … Continue reading →

NHS stroke services in Herefordshire could go within a month 11:11am Tuesday 1st April 2014 in News By Bill Tanner NHS stroke services in the county could be lost within a month unless patient numbers increase by as much as five times the present figure. A stark warning for the future of stroke services was spelt out to a meeting of the Wye Valley NHS Trust (WVT) Board this week. That future could see stroke patients travelling at least as far as Worcester or Gloucester for treatment. The board heard that funding for the services is an outstanding issue between WVT and the Herefordshire Clinical Commission Group (HCCG) as both prepare budgets for 2014-15. WVT, the board heard, cannot continue to provide a service that is under-resourced" and known to be sub-optimal. Stroke services are already on the Trusts high risk list over the provision of hyperacute stroke facilities and staff with relevant competencies to support patients needing thombolysis treatment with clot busting drugs. WVT has developed a business case for investment in the service needed to meet national performance standards. That case has the service needing 1m a year to make it viable and handling up to five times … Continue reading →