The meeting is designed to help better educate the medical community in the region about the growing problem of Lyme disease.

Speakers include:

• Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th)
• Dr. Mike Farris, chancellor of Patrick Henry College and chairman of the Governor’s Lyme Task Force
• Dr. David Trump, Virginia State Epidemiologist for the Virginia Department of Health
• Dr. Samuel Shor, associate clinical professor, George Washington University Health Care Sciences, and a member of the Governor’s Lyme Task Force. Dr. Shor will present information regarding a historical perspective of Lyme disease, acute presentation/prevention and a “state of the art” literature-based description of diagnostic criteria, other potential clinical manifestations and treatment issues.

McDonnell signed House Bill 1107, sponsored by Delegate Thomas “Tag” Greason, a Republican from Potomac Falls, and Senate Bill 656, introduced by Sen. Donald McEachin, a Democrat from Richmond.

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AS the Virginia General Assembly ignites controversy with legis-lation involving the hot-button issues of the day, other bills that easily span the political divide are overshadowed. Some are designed to reflect on lessons learned from tragic events in Virginia and elsewhere.

The bill, inspired by the suicide of a Fairfax County high school student in the aftermath of disciplinary proceedings last year, passed the chamber 40 to 0.

Nick Stuban, a W.T. Woodson High School student and football player, took his life in January 2011, in the aftermath of school disciplinary proceedings. He’d been accused of buying JWH-018, a synthetic compound with a marijuana-like effect.

School officials had questioned him for days, notifying his parents only afterward with the news that he was being suspended with a recommendation for expulsion, said his father, Steven Stuban, who’d come to Richmond this year to lobby for several bills intended to soften what critics called an unduly harsh disciplinary code.

It is by no means certain that the bill, filed by Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax City), will become law. A similar bill filed in the House by Del. Kaye Kory (D-Fairfax) stalled in a subcommittee this month.

Petersen’s bill would require that school officials notify parents “as soon as practicable” when students face disciplinary proceedings that could result in their suspension, expulsion or the notification of law enforcement.

Kory’s ill-fated House bill would have required that parents be notified whenever a student is suspected of violating school board policy.

Also Monday, the House and Senate passed a pair of bills meant to help school officials come to the aid of students with severe allergic reactions.

Know as the “EpiPen bills,” the measures would direct local school boards to establish policies for keeping epinephrine pens on hand at every school, so that a school nurse, employee or trained volunteer could administer it to any student thought to be having an anaphylactic reaction.

The bills, sponsored by Sen. A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) and Del. Thomas A. “Tag” Greason (R-Loudoun), specified that in the event that someone sued over use of an epinephrine pen, school employees could not be held liable for civil damages so long as they had acted in good faith.

The House also voted to advance a bill that would provide tax credits for corporations that provide private school scholarships to low-income students. The bill has strong support from Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R), a proponent of school choice. There is opposition from teachers’ groups, who fear it will open the door to private-school vouchers for parents.

The bill is expected to get a final vote Tuesday.

By     Laura Vozzella  |  04:28 PM ET, 02/13/2012

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Families with autistic children between ages two and six were already supposed to be covered after McDonnell approved a bill last year mandating it. But Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli insisted the bill, as written, failed to accomplish that goal.

Emergency revisions easily passed both chambers last month. Still, it will be awhile before insurance providers are required to cover those kids. The bill gives the state Board of Medicine 280 days to write guidelines for behavior analysts who work with autistic children.

That means the new rules will likely go into affect a full year after families were expecting when the bill was signed last spring. In the meantime parents have to choose between treatment for their young, developing children and high medical bills.

Some lawmakers wanted to adopt federal guidelines in the interim as state officials decided on their own, but McDonnell’s administration nixed that plan.

“After years of hard work and coordination, hundreds of children will finally get the help they need to make a real difference in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders,” said Del. Tag Greason, R-Loudoun, the bill’s author.

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After the 2011 General Assembly adjourned, the Attorney General’s office notified the Board of Medicine they were not authorized by the underlying legislation, House Bill 2467, to promulgate regulations for the licensure of Certified Behavior Analysts. Certified Behavior Analysts provide Applied Behavioral Analysis, the preferred method of treatment, to children diagnosed with autism.

To correct this issue, Delegate Tag Greason (R-Loudoun) offered House Bill 1106, which clarifies the ability of the Board of Medicine to promulgate regulations implementing last year’s autism insurance legislation.

“After years of hard work and coordination, hundreds of children will finally get the help they need to make a real difference in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders,” said Greason. “I’m appreciative of all the help I’ve received over the last two years from my colleagues in the House of Delegates and advocates from across the Commonwealth.”

“Recognizing that thousands of families across Virginia are affected by autism spectrum disorders, the General Assembly passed landmark legislation last year requiring insurance coverage of autism treatment and therapy for children ages two through six,” said Speaker of the House William J. Howell (R-Stafford). “In developing that legislation, my colleagues and I worked very hard to balance the needs of families with the interests of the business community. The final product was legislation that provides for autistic children with minimal impact on premiums.”

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Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) has signed a bill — again — to provide insurance coverage for families with autistic children, according to his office.

McDonnell (R) had originally signed a bill into law last spring mandating coverage, but Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) determined that the legislation contained imprecise language that legislators needed to correct.

Gov. Bob McDonnell (Alexa Welch Edlund - Associated Press)

Since then, families who expected insurance coverage have continued to pay out of pocket — if they can afford it — or forgo treatments they say could help their children learn basic skills such as walking and talking.

The bill will require health insurers to pay for specialized treatment — called applied behavioral analysis — as well as occupational, speech and other therapies for children ages 2 to 6. The maximum benefit was capped at $35,000 each year.

“After years of hard work and coordination, hundreds of children will finally get the help they need to make a real difference in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders,’’ Del. Tag Greason (R-Loudoun). “I’m appreciative of all the help I’ve received over the last two years from my colleagues in the House of Delegates and advocates from across the Commonwealth.”

The bill directs the state to write regulations within 280 days for those who teach applied behavior analysis to autistic children. That means coverage should start by the end of the year.

Autism is a neurological disorder that affects one in 110 children and one in 70 boys, according to national statistics. Virginia does not keep statistics on autism, but the state Department of Education estimates that 11,700 autistic children attend school (many others are too young or not able to attend).

The original measure had failed for 11 straight years until House Speaker William Howell (R-Stafford) backed it — even though conservatives considered the measure an unacceptable mandate that would drive up insurance costs.

Thirty-four states and the District have laws related to autism and insurance, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. At least 29 states require insurance coverage for autism treatment. Others require at least limited coverage.

There’s no estimate on the number of Virginia families who would benefit from the law, but it affects businesses that employ more than 50 workers and are not self-insured. Virginia set aside $1 million to cover state employees.

By Anita Kumar

Del. Greason (photo from Richmond Times Dispatch)

Children with autism could have a key treatment covered by insurance by the end of this year under a measure heading to the House of Delegates.

The bill, sponsored by Del. Thomas A. “Tag” Greason, R-Loudoun, is intended to address technical issues with the autism insurance mandate legislation passed during last year’s session that have delayed implementation.

Greason’s bill gives the Board of Medicine the power to promulgate the regulations that legislators asked them to last year, and directs them to do it within 280 days. It also creates a work group of industry experts to help the board with the regulations.

The measure carries an emergency clause, which would speed it through the General Assembly to the governor’s desk. Emergency legislation, which takes effect upon the governor’s signature, requires the approval of 80 percent of lawmakers in each chamber.

The House’s Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee approved the measure 21-0 Tuesday.

“The governor has said he’s going to sign it as soon as he gets it on his desk,” Greason said.

Some advocates are disappointed that an effort to cover care between now and when the regulations are completed was unsuccessful.

“I can’t imagine having a four-year-old with autism and finding out I have to wait another year,” said John W. Maloney, an advocate of the insurance mandate. “The treatment window is already narrow.”

Teresa Champion, president of the Virginia Autism Project, said she also would have liked some interim fix but that she’s thankful some legislation is moving forward.

“We just want therapy in the hands of families,” she said.

Legislation passed last year requires health insurers to cover some treatments for autistic children ages 2 to 6, with a cap on annual coverage costs of $35,000. It does not apply to self-insured companies and would exempt businesses with 50 or fewer employees.

It covers state employees and the $1 million reserved to cover increased premiums that the state would pay for state workers is still earmarked.

The law was intended to take effect this month, but the attorney general’s office concluded that the state Board of Medicine did not have the power to create the regulations as asked. Greason’s measure, House Bill 1106, is expected come before the House of Delegates for a final vote Friday.

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