Assemblyman Weprin joins a rally in support of disabled children who could not attend their neighborhood schools.

Autism
Assemblyman Weprin understands the importance of diagnosing autism at an early age and for children to get the help they need to improve their quality of life.

Every day, thousands of New York families are faced with the challenge of caring for a child diagnosed with autism, and every day many of those same families worry that their child’s medical treatment may not be covered by their insurance.

Children with autism require special medical care and attention. These requirements can be very expensive and often place financial burdens on families. That’s why Assemblyman Weprin sponsored legislation that will require insurance companies to cover the costs relating to the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. This legislation—which passed the Senate and awaits the governor’s signature—will have a positive effect on the level of care we provide young people diagnosed with this disorder.

Under this new legislation, children who have autism may be diagnosed earlier, and thus be able to begin treatment at an earlier age. By receiving treatment at an earlier age, they would require less medical attention later in life, which will help insurance companies save money in the long run. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates the number of children currently facing autism in the country is 1 in 110. These numbers make autism one of the most common disorders affecting children today, so the importance of this legislation cannot be overstated.

Improving the performance and safety of state-run group homes
In June, I helped pass a legislative package aimed at improving safety measures in New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)-licensed facilities and programs. The Assembly passed the legislative package following a series of four public hearings statewide that examined allegations of abuse in group homes and institutions throughout the state.

Stricter penalties for offenders and standardized training for employees would result from the legislative package I supported. It would also create a prior-abuse notification system to prevent employees with a history of abuse from working with vulnerable individuals, ensuring that those with developmental disabilities are kept safe and healthy when under the care of the state.

With the heat of the summer months upon us, the threat of West Nile Virus by mosquitoes is prevalent. Assemblyman David Weprin attended a press conference to encourage residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes and to stay indoors during spraying hours. For more tips and information on preventing the spread of West Nile Virus, you can call 311 or visit the NYC Department of Health’s website at www.nyc.gov/health.

Assemblyman Weprin taking a donor’s blood pressure with the help of Donor Specialist, Ralph DiSalvo at a community blood drive in New Hyde Park.

Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs

Every day, thousands of New Yorkers depend on prescription drugs to maintain their health. But the crush of difficult economic times, along with increasingly higher prescription drug prices, limits access to vital medication, especially for seniors. In order to help alleviate the burden of soaring prescription prices on our vulnerable residents and health care programs, Assemblyman Weprin voted for legislation that would establish the Prescription Drug Assistance Program to harness consumer purchasing power by negotiating rebates with suppliers (A.805). Those rebates would then be applied toward reducing prescription drug costs for participants, helping to make their medication more attainable.

Affordable, Quality Health Care

For New Yorkers who don’t receive health insurance through their employers or are still struggling to find work, trying to get reasonably priced, quality health care can be a daunting task. Assemblyman Weprin supported legislation that establishes the New York Health Benefit Exchange in compliance with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was passed by Congress last year.

Through this legislation, New York would be allowed to establish and operate its own health insurance exchange—a centralized marketplace that will provide consumers and small businesses with access to a variety of health care plans from different insurance providers and determine eligibility for and provide enrollment in public health plans.