When Clinical Director Kristin Wier of the Logan Center in Benton Harbor showed up on the capitol steps in Lansing this week, State Rep. Pauline Wendzel took her under her wing and together they testified on behalf of critical legislation that would help ensure that children with autism continue to receive vital services without interruption.
Wendzel says, “This redundant procedure hurts children waiting to receive care because they compete with everyone struggling to get their re-evaluation,” and adds, “If a family fails to secure a re-diagnosis for their child, that child sees a pause in their services – and that risks hurting their development and progress. Michigan is the only state that requires this procedure to be repeated every year, and it’s past time we help caregivers save time and expand these life-changing services to more children.”
Director Wier provided additional testimony on the redundancy of the re-evaluation assessment, contending, “The current annual re-diagnostic assessment is a tool that is only one piece of the diagnostic process,” and noting, “After the original diagnosis, adaptive behavior assessments are required to occur every 6 months during a treatment period. At this time of assessment, a new treatment plan is also required.”
Director Wier fielded questions and educated the Health Policy Committee for the State House of Representatives on the history of that redundant evaluation and on the critical services provided to children by the LOGAN Center and other ASD caregivers across the state.
House Bill 4059 is scheduled to be voted out of the Health Policy Committee soon and advance to the full House of Representatives for further consideration.
