Families Distinguish Our State
July 24th, 2010
DURANT, Okla. – Hello again, everyone! The Lord has blessed Oklahoma, and the greatest of those many blessings are the families who make their home here.
The one thing that truly distinguishes our state from the others is the quality of people who weave themselves into the tapestry that is Oklahoma. This week, a thread was pulled from that tapestry as a family that had hoped to make Oklahoma its home forever reluctantly left our state.
Wayne and Robyne Rohde and their sons, Austin and Nicholas, moved to Minnesota. You probably have heard of the Rohdes; their son, Nick, is afflicted with autism and he is the namesake of “Nick’s Law,” a bill for which I have tenaciously fought the past three years.
Nick’s Law would require health insurance policies in Oklahoma to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism in children. Autism is a national epidemic. Studies show that out of every 100 children born in America, one will be diagnosed with some form of autism. For little boys, the risk is four times greater than it is for girls.
While Nick’s Law, which passed the Senate on at least four different occasions, has yet to become Oklahoma’s law, we made progress for families who have children with autism. The discrimination against these children did not end with denying coverage for autism; it extended to denying claims for injuries and illnesses not connected to autism.
This year, I amended a bill to require insurance companies to treat children who have autism the same as they treat children without the diagnosis. The new law passed both the Senate and House without opposition.
Parents of children with autism who sacrifice to pay health insurance premiums – knowing that autism is not covered – can rest assured their child will get the health care they need for other illnesses or injuries. A major newspaper called it one of the Legislature’s finest hours, and I am proud we made this step.
Still, the crushing weight of more than $30,000 in annual treatment costs for Nick with no health insurance coverage for autism was too much for the Rohde family. They are not alone; many families have left Oklahoma for one of the growing number of states requiring coverage of autism.
Not only was this a loss of a passionate advocate for Oklahoma children who have no voice of their own, the Rohdes’ leaving was a personal loss for my family and me. Our families have become very close over the past three years.
Certainly, we will keep in touch, and my prayers go with my friends. Still, our work here must continue. There are thousands of children with autism, and each one of them is precious. There is no greater statement of the values of a state than how we treat our children – and I am committed to ensuring our laws truly reflect Oklahoma’s values.
Thanks for reading this week’s “Senate Minute.” Have a great week, and may God bless you all.