Virginia Candidates for Governor Largely Avoid Autism Treatment Debate

One in a series of articles about issues being discussed by the Democratic candidates for governor of Virginia, who will stand for the primary Tuesday.

The debate over paying for autism treatment has forced the candidates for governor of Virginia to navigate a tricky path between offering hope to parents and reassuring the business community that the cost will not overburden it.

So the candidates have charted the safe course, largely avoiding the emotional issue.

As politically active families with autistic children attempt to make themselves heard, they have been scouring Web sites and public remarks of the three candidates in the Democratic primary -- state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe and former state delegate Brian Moran -- for clues to their stances on the government's role in ensuring treatment for autistic children.

"One of the things about the disability vote is it's just not talked to. It's just forgotten," said Martha J. Toomey, co-founder of disAbility Votes, a political action committee.

Interest in the issue comes as the nation contends with a staggering increase in diagnosed cases. Autism, a neurological disorder, now affects one in every 150 children, according to federal statistics.

The Virginia General Assembly has twice considered bills to require insurers to provide diagnostic and therapeutic coverage. A proposal this year would have required coverage of as much as $36,000 a year for those younger than 21, but it died in committee.

The topic surfaced at a debate in April in Danville, Va., when all three candidates were asked about coverage for autism. The Democrats were unanimous in their support, but none said whether, or how, they would offset the cost to businesses.

This year, Rachel Kirkland approached McAuliffe about coverage for autistic children such as her 7-year-old son, Jimmy. McAuliffe's response left her feeling "blown off."

"This should be on everybody's radar at this point," she said, adding that McAuliffe later sent her a letter and posted material about the issue on his Web site.

"Terry believes we need to make sure that all insurance companies provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders," spokeswoman Lis Smith said. "With estimated costs of less than $2 per person per month, expanding this coverage would have minimal impact on Virginia businesses and a positive impact on Virginia families."

Deeds addressed a recent rally outside the General Assembly to push for bills mandating insurance coverage. "It's just right that it be covered," Deeds was quoted as saying.

Brooke Borkenhagen, a spokeswoman for the campaign, said Deeds also believes that the cost -- estimated by supporters from $1.50 to $4 a month per person -- would be manageable.

Moran's Healthy Virginia plan includes a discussion of autism and his pledge to mandate insurance coverage not only because it is the right thing to do but because early detection reduces costs in the long run, Moran spokesman Jesse Ferguson said.

Members of the business community are warily keeping an eye on the issue. Hugh Keogh, who heads the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, said businesses were in no mood to take on a new financial burden. Keogh said health premiums are rising about 10 percent a year, forcing some firms to drop coverage.

"It's easy on the stump to say, 'Yeah, sure, we'll give everyone everything,' " said Doug Gray of the Virginia Association of Health Plans, which opposes mandated coverage. "This issue is too serious and too complicated to be handled in a five-minute sound bite in the middle of a gubernatorial campaign."