The Capitol Report: Advancing Autism Services & Serving Constituent Needs
Posted by GSDispatch Editor in by Jeff Grisamore
House Bill 525 Signed into Law
On July 8th I had the privilege to join the Governor in his Capitol for the public bill signing of my House Bill 525 into state law. HB 525, along with its companion legislation, Senate Bill 157, codifies into statute the Missouri Autism Projects.
We were joined at the Capitol by children with autism and their parents, including Senator Eric Schmitt–the sponsor of Senate Bill 157–whose son has autism. The bill signing ceremony and press conference was also attended by autism advocates from throughout the state. A video clip and additional coverage from the event can be seen in the GreenSummit Dispatch Online at http://greensummitdispatch.com/index.php/archives/897.
Serving Constituents with Traumatic Brain Injuries
On June 25th, I visited Quality Living, Inc. (QLI) in Omaha, Nebraska on behalf of a constituent, Brant Burt, who was being received that same day into QLI for up to six months of transitional rehabilitation following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a car accident. After weeks of effort to assist Brant and his family, his acceptance into QLI was a major blessing to him and his family. QLI, in my view, is like a Mayo Clinic of transitional rehabilitation and one of the top facilities of its kind in the nation. Brant’s story and others like him in the district have inspired me to fight for a related waiver and services that were cut four years ago — a TBI Waiver and restoration of comprehensive day rehabilitation services for individuals with traumatic brain injuries. I met in June with officials with the Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Major Health Care Needs towards that goal.
Emergency Action to Help a Constituent Needing a Liver Transplant
The second and third week of July have been in an emergency mode assisting a Greenwood constituent in need of a life saving liver transplant due to a life threatening hepatitis condition. As reported in the Lee’s Summit Tribune, Melissa Lewis was brought to my attention by members of the press and her pastor, Jim Winings, of Heaven’s Gate Gospel Church in Lee’s Summit. I already knew Pastor Winings and his church through their outstanding work with children with autism and other disabilities through their lama, alpaca and horse therapy services.
Melissa Lewis’ liver condition was further complicated by the fact that her husband, Brent, who is disabled, had lost his job and the health insurance that went with it. To make matters worse, their home has been foreclosed upon and they do not have a vehicle to get Melissa back and forth to doctors and hospitals.
Wanting to assist any way I could to help save Melissa’s life, I first conferred with the Director of Missouri’s MoHealthNet Division (Missouri Medicaid), Dr. Ian McCaslin. Approval for Medicaid can normally take up to 45-60 days. Because of Melissa’s life threatening condition, I requested her case be moved to the front of the line for immediate consideration. I was very thankful when her application was approved on the very same day I spoke to the MoHealthNet Director. Dr. McCaslin and his MoHealthNet team and the Department of Family Services in Jackson County are to be highly commended in this situation.
I have also conferred with the University of Kansas Medical Center Organ Transplant team on Melissa’s behalf and they have been very receptive and helpful. As of July 20th, Melissa will have completed an assessment at KU, after which their transplant team will confer to determine if she can be placed on the waiting list for a liver transplant. Once approved by KU, newly approved funding through Medicaid could make her life saving transplant possible.
It has been great to see how public officials and private citizens in Melissa’s home town of Greenwood, along with others throughout the area, have rallied behind her to help Melissa and her family. Having the privilege to serve constituents like Melissa Lewis and Brant Burt is why I always say, “I love public service and hate politics.” Putting up with the sometime dysfunctions in Jefferson City are barely tolerable, but serving constituents and Missourians in need is thrilling and fulfilling.
If we can be of assistance to you in any way, please contact our Capitol office by phone at 573.751.1456 or email at jeff.grisamore@house.mo.gov or by mail at 201 W. Capitol Avenue, Room 134, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
