(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Six-year-old Logan Hilton, who is autistic, plays on his parents' bed while watching a kid's video, Friday July 27, 2012. Logan's mother, Michelle Hilton, qualifies for a new pilot program to treat Logan. The problem is she needs to contribute $6,000 to fully benefit.<\/p>\n
Health Families must pay $6,000 per year toward treatment.<\/p>\n
The adorable little boy wearing the backpack is 6 years old, but Logan Hilton cant hold a conversation and doesnt understand how to make friends. <\/p>\n
A website designed to raise $12,000 for two years of Applied Behavior Analysis autism treatment for him explains that without help, \"Logan would require constant costly care for the rest of his life.\" <\/p>\n
Utahs two-year autism treatment pilot, which launched this year, is intended to help kids like Logan. His mom works for the Department of Corrections, and as the child of a public employee, he can now receive up to $30,000 worth of behavioral treatment each year. <\/p>\n
The problem is that families covered by the Public Employees Health Program still need to contribute $6,000 annually to take advantage of the maximum state benefit. <\/p>\n
\"Im grateful for it, but at the same time its not enough,\" said his mom, Michelle Hilton. \"They havent made it affordable enough.\" <\/p>\n
The Eagle Mountain mom believes more families would have participated if the requirements paying 20 percent of the cost, and open only to children from age 2 to 6 had been more flexible. <\/p>\n
Only 25 children are signed up for the 50 autism pilot slots in the PEHP portion. <\/p>\n
\"I think because of that age limit we dont capture all of the autistic kids in our population,\" said Toan Lam, the PEHP medical director. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Read the original: (Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Six-year-old Logan Hilton, who is autistic, plays on his parents' bed while watching a kid's video, Friday July 27, 2012. Logan's mother, Michelle Hilton, qualifies for a new pilot program to treat Logan. The problem is she needs to contribute $6,000 to fully benefit. Continue reading
\nUtah autism solution continues to frustrate parents<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"