Thank You Liberal Party of Canada in South Surrey - White Rock For Supporting Medicare Coverage of ABA Treatment for Autism

Below are (1) My expression of appreciation to the Liberal Party of Canada South Surrey - White Rock for its resolution in support of Medicare coverage for Autism Treatment followed by (2) the resolution itself.

1

I wish to thank the Liberal Party of Canada South Surrey – White Rock for your resolution calling for Medicare coverage of Applied Behavior Analysis for Autism. If the resolution is passed and makes its way into Medicare it will be of immense importance in improving the lives of many with autism and the families who love and care for them. I am a Fredericton NB   father of a 20 year old son with severe autism and severe limitations in speech and communication.  My son did not have access to intensive early ABA but has received some ABA in the school system without which he would not have been able to proceed in school and we would have been even more challenged in caring for him and having him live at home with us.  He has loved going to school and receiving ABA and it has been a wonderful experience for him. 

 

Our family experience is consistent with the overwhelming body of decades of scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of ABA treatment for autism. The most comprehensive and credible review of the science supporting ABA is found in the American Academy of Pediatrics publication Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders which stated with respect to ABA scientific support:

“The effectiveness of ABA-based intervention in ASDs has been well documented through 5 decades of research by using single-subject methodology21,25,27,28 and in controlled studies of comprehensive early intensive behavioral intervention programs in university and community settings.29–40 Children who receive early intensive behavioral treatment have been shown to make substantial, sustained gains in IQ, language, academic performance, and adaptive behavior as well as some measures of social behavior, and their outcomes have been significantly better than those of children in control groups.31–4” (2007, confirmed 2012)

Many parents of autistic children across Canada have our fingers crossed hoping this very worthy resolution is passed and ultimately incorporated in Medicare.

The Liberal Party of Canada South Surrey – White Rock has this autism parent’s respect and appreciation.

Sincerely,

Harold L Doherty

Conor’s   Dad

Fredericton NB

2

The Liberal Party of Canada South Surrey - White Rock Resolution calling for for Medicare Coverage for the treatment of Autism:

Medicare Coverage for the treatment of Autism

WHEREAS the rate of autism spectrum disorder (“ASD”) among Canadian children is now a shocking 1 in 68, constituting a national epidemic and, for reasons unknown, continues to rise;

WHEREAS Canada’s “universal” health care system currently excludes from coverage the recognized, effective, science-based treatment for ASD called Applied Behavioural Analysis (“ABA”), despite the deplorable incidence of this neurological condition and advocacy from numerous citizen groups;

WHEREAS the BC Supreme Court, in 2000, found that ABA was “medically necessary treatment” and that “there were no effective competing therapies”, a decision which was upheld on appeal by the BC Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada;

WHEREAS funding in Canada respecting ABA for ASD currently is not only grossly insufficient, it varies widely between provinces;

WHEREAS the lifetime cost of an individual receiving inadequate treatment (or none) for ASD is reliably estimated between $2.4 - $3.2 million, excluding indirect costs to society; and

WHEREAS the US Government requires all states to provide treatment for ASD as part of state-wide Medicaid programs and 43 out of 50 states require private health insurers to provide coverage for ASD treatment;

BE IT RESOLVED the Canada Health Act be amended to include Medicare coverage for ABA for ASD or, alternatively, the Government of Canada work with all provincial and territorial governments to ensure inclusion of ABA for ASD within their respective Medical Services Plans.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Government of Canada provide funding to each province and territory to fully cover the costs associated with the provision of ABA treatment of ASD.

South Surrey-White Rock