Posted Thursday --- February 28, 2008 --- 6:00pm

Madison: Children with autism can easily be overstimulated by loud noises, a lot of action and new environments.

So you know these parents mean business when they brought their kids to the Capitol for a rally to demand the Assembly vote on a bill that would require insurance companies cover autism treatment.

The Senate passed the bill last week, and Governor Doyle says it's a simple choice. "It's whether you're going to side with some insurance companies in the state of Wisconsin, or whether you're going to side with families that really need some help."

The Assembly was in session one floor up from the rally, and parent Terry Recker was hoping they could hear. "I hope we can show them this is something their constituents are for."

Terry and her husband have two children with autism, but their health insurance won't cover treatment. That treatment can cost $40-60,000 a year. A state program can provide treatment, but there's a waiting list 300 families long. "Our son Jonnie, he's on the waiting list. His wait, we've been told could be up to two years. They stress early intervention, but you get the early diagnosis and you can't afford the treatment. Then what are you supposed to do?"

Rep. Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) is the Assembly Speaker.
He says the autism bill is not being ignored. "We are going to be addressing the autism matter in the Assembly very soon, if not today."

But Huebsch and many other Republicans oppose the mandate on insurance companies. He says that would actually increase state costs by $9 million. Instead, he'd like to spend $6 million to expand the state program and eliminate the waiting list. "We would achieve the same thing without putting an $80 million increase on insurances across the state."

But autism advocates like Lynn Meshke say that's not enough. "Extra money to go into the children's waiver, while very much appreciated, won't help all of the individuals who are aged out of the waiver, or who are adults."