As the lying pseudo-science scumbags like Dr. Offit, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, journalist Brian Deer, ORAC and others of their ilk continue to lie to the public, we are also witnessing (as usual) a virtual media blackout of this preliminary research here in the United States. At what point will they begin to listen? Recent remarks on a social networking site regarding a Montreal based recounting of the study suggests that perhaps some are being forced to concede the facts after the release of Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s book Callous Disregard. The accounts in this book should be enough to have those involved within the General Medical Council (the regulating agency responsible for removing D. Wakefield’s ability to practice medicine) removed from their responsibilities, placed under arrest and tried for crimes against humanity.

The lead researcher in this study was quoted by The Mail Online as saying: ‘What it means is that the study done earlier by Dr Wakefield and published in 1998 is correct. That study didn’t draw any conclusions about specifically what it means to find measles virus in the gut, but the implication is it may be coming from the MMR vaccine. If that’s the case, and this live virus is residing in the gastrointestinal tract of some children, and then they have GI inflammation and other problems, it may be related to the MMR.’

As many parents within the autism community (including myself) have suggested for years, the early findings in this study suggest that the MMR is playing a role in regressive autism and the underlying gastrointestinal issues that seem to be predominant. The research team members are examining 275 children with regressive autism and bowel disease – and of the 82 tested so far, 70 prove positive for the measles virus. This Virus has also been shown to be that of the vaccine strain!

Many of these parents of children with regressive autism have demanded that action be taken and their voices heard. These demands have been ignored my far too many with the power to change the course of this debilitating disorder, all while also costing taxpayers billions of dollars! Our politicians, school officials, doctors and scientists that continue to ignore the mounting evidence between vaccines and autism are equally as guilty as those within the GMC in my humble opinion.  The Mail Online has stated in an article regarding this news that: “This is the second independent study to back up Dr Wakefield. In 2001 John O’Leary, Professor of Pathology at St James’s Hospital and Trinity College, Dublin, replicated his findings. “Those within the autism community know that this is now the sixth study to replicate Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s work. Read more of the Mail Online article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-388051/Scientists-fear-MMR-link-autism.html#ixzz0uRwbbsTs

Dr. Wakefield will be vindicated, scientists will lose their reputations and doctors will lose all credibility as the autism community is shown for what they are: a group of highly talented, incredibly smart and brave heroes that have been unrelenting in their cause to turn the course of autism around. What will it take for those like Obama, Cameron and other world leaders to listen? 1 – 50 children affected? One in 10 or one out of five destroyed? At what point will leaders finally tell the likes of Insel, Offit, Fombonne and others to get their sorry, lying asses out of their offices and call in the real heroes to fix this problem? It had better be soon.

While I understand that FOX (as well as every other mainstream media outlet) relies heavily on pharmaceutical advertising to remain on the air, children are being damaged and yes, indeed murdered, as they turn a blind eye to the very real issue of vaccine injury. At what point will injuries to those most innocent stop taking a back seat to profit? Will it take 1 in 50 children affected with autism? 1 in 10 dying from febrile seizures? 1 in 5 with a developmental disability (oops…wait. too late for that one)?!

An FDA official, Mary Malarkey (what a great name for an FDA official!) wrote a scathing report regarding CSL’s actions (the pharmaceutical company responsible for the manufacture of the seasonal flu vaccine in Australia). Now wait a minute… The FDA wrote a “scathing” report about dereliction within the pharmaceutical industry?! Surely this is NOT a drug company that operates within the U.S. (at least not a “big player”)!

So FOX News reports on “fevers” while children are convulsing and in some extreme cases…dying! GREAT JOB FOX!!!!!!

I also, by the way, find it absolutely appalling that under this story in the “You Might Also Be interested in:” heading, it seems that FOX News feels that if you’re concerned about killer vaccine, you might also be interested in the following:

A few days ago I received a copy of the Complaint (lawsuit) filed in US District Court in Washington, DC, against the United States Government, the Department of Defense, Tricare Management Activity, and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates. You can read the Complaint HERE. Most of the letters cited in the complaint can be found in the Documents section here on Autism Salutes (scroll down on the left side).

As a parent who worked on and continually wrote about what was happening with the legislative efforts mentioned in the Complaint, I have been very aware for years that the reason the DoD set up the ECHO program the way they did was to avoid paying for the expensive therapy that benefit our children with autism.

Since the Complaint was filed in US District Court, TRICARE Management Activity issued a letter on June 30, 2010, to the CEO’s of all its’ contractor’s, one of which is Humana. You can read the letter HERE. The letter stated that TMA was reviewing its policy on whether or not they would provide ABA under the basic Tricare program and that they expected to have this review completed by September 20, 2010. The letter also stated the contractor’s for TMA were to hold in abeyance until the review was completed; claims filed and authorization requests, for ABA. That means NO MORE DENIAL LETTERS for claims or authorization requests are to be SENT until the review is complete. Keep in mind, the letter from TMA was issued June 30^th. On July 8, 2010, a denial letter was issued by one of TMA’s healthcare contractor’s. There will be more to come on that topic later.

All I can think of after reading the Complaint is that what the DoD has gotten away with, for YEARS, is criminal. There has been a complete lack of “checks and balances”. I’ll tell you honestly, I think the DoD under estimated military spouses and members who have spoken up to bring this about. I also think they have under estimated parents of children with autism across the ranks, and when I say that I mean those in the civilian world as well. We don’t put up with perfidy, and we certainly don’t tolerate crimes against humanity, which is exactly what has been committed by the DoD, and against CHILDREN! Military dependent children to start with; as a good friend of mine stated in a comment post the other day, “the genie is out of the bottle”.

I am of the belief that those in government who have not supported our military families who have dependents with autism, these two “gentlemen” (pictured to the left), and the CEO’s of the healthcare contractor’s for TMA, should all be brought up on UCMJ charges or the civilian equivalent of such. Should this happen, they should each be sentenced to one year in the Brig or Prison for each child they; denied a claim for, denied an authorization for, and the number of years collectively that a child was not able to access ABA under their “ECHO” program because providers were not available because of their failure to obey the Federal Code of regulations. Essentially, a life sentence in the Brig for each of them, because that’s what they’ve done to countless children. No chance for parole. Not a one.

They all have been willing to leave our kids in the prison that autism is; why do “they” deserve any less? “They” broke Federal Laws to avoid paying to help our kids.

Yes, indeed, the genie is out of the bottle. And this time, there is no more smoke screen, and the letter from TMA to the contractor’s was nothing more than that.

Suzanne Humphries, MD
July 5, 2010
imcv.info

Mainstream medicine has hit a new low in its war against physicians who have become alternative healers.  The battle has been going on for decades, but lately, in bully-like fashion, pharma’s minions are ramping up the vilification. They’re now discrediting any healing method not based in their version of accepted science – excuse me, I meant their religion of pharmaceutical belief which has been misnamed as “science”.

They demand explanation and evidence when we reject their drugs, yet they never serve up true evidence or proof that drugs do more good than harm. They insist with religious fervor that vaccines are safe, effective and keep people healthy.  They preach as gospel that antibiotics are better or safer than homeopathy, herbs, colloidal silver, vitamin D and natural support for non-life threatening infections, despite the fact that antibiotic adverse effects are common and well documented.  Serious effects such as anaphylaxis (inflammatory shock), kidney failure, liver failure, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a life threatening condition where the epidermis separates from the dermis), Clostridium difficile colitis  (commonly referred to as C-diff), and the creation of drug resistant super-bacteria are but a few examples.   And now, they’ve recruited some very bright (but not necessarily wise) minds to attack alternative practitioners.  Their latest weapon is name calling – most notably, labeling them “quacks”.

“Quack”, as per the Random House dictionary:

1. A fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill; 2. A person who pretends, professionally or publicly, to skill, knowledge, or qualifications he or she does not possess; a charlatan.

But from its current usage, I’d say they’ve added a new definition:

3. A physician or medical healer who does not profit from creating and maintaining disease, but rather respects the natural tendency of the body to heal itself; one who helps the body eliminate whatever toxins are causing illness, be they environmental, emotional or pharmaceutical; one who uses primarily non-toxic, non-surgical means for routine care, and uses pharmaceutical and surgical medicine as a last resort.

Who Gets on the List?

Physicians, who see that the popular medical-pharmaceutical construct endangers its recipients with marginally tested drugs of questionable efficacy, but with well documented adverse effects, are labeled as quacks.  A physician who recognizes the significant conflicts of interest and resultant corruption in the circle of influence that comprises the nation’s government/ public health officials, lobbyists for the pharmaceutical industry, and in many instances his or her own colleagues is considered a quack.

As a matter of fact, it seems a quack is apparently anyone in the healthcare industry who does not believe in and support the unharnessed proliferation of the pharmaceutical industry, with its virtually unlimited profits from its worldwide distribution of toxic medications and vaccines. When a physician has the ethical fortitude to reject these massive operations and label them as destructive, s/he will be considered a quack.  And most definitely, any physician who no longer wishes to be a mercenary for the pharma-backed junta that has taken over medical schools and medical institutions will be tagged “quack”.

I noticed, when Googling the names of some of our most prominent alternative healers, they all earn the title of “quack”. This new, disparaging label seems to have appeared at a time when there was a growing tension in the world about the necessity, efficacy and safety of vaccines and pharmaceutical drugs. Most physicians who believe that the current childhood vaccination program is not safe or is unnecessary are automatically thrown onto the list, regardless of their accomplishments, backgrounds, or well-established reputations prior to uttering an opinion that vaccines may be dangerous.

Some of my favorite “quacks” as defined by #3:

• Sherri Tenpenny, DO: published author, scholar on a long list of topics, especially the problems caused by vaccines.
• Russell Blaylock, MD: neurosurgeon and outspoken advocate of health freedom.
• Andrew Wakefield, MB: published author, formerly respected surgeon until he stepped on the toes of big pharma with a groundbreaking monkey study involving the Hepatitis B vaccine, a study that never got published. That research would have ultimately exposed the ravages of the entire childhood vaccine program.
• Mayer Eisenstein, MD, JD, MPH: published author, attorney, and outspoken natural health advocate, who happens to have more than 20,000 non-autistic, unvaccinated children in his group medical practice.
• Garry Gordon, MD, DO, MD(H): innovator, heavy metal detoxification expert, and living example of vibrant aging.
• Joseph Mercola, DO: outspoken natural health advocate who uncovers and exposes corruption and inaccuracies in conventional medicine through his widely viewed website.
• Lawrence Palevsky, MD, FACP: conventionally trained, board certified pediatrician, who has publicly expressed disagreement with conventional drugs and vaccines and offers a holistic pediatric option.

Why do I support these physicians and why am I qualified to lash out at pharma, “science-based medicine” bloggers, “Quackwatch”? I am a Medical Doctor with a bachelor’s degree in physics, certifications in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. I have no malpractice suits on my record and I have always been well regarded by my colleagues. However, the respect I have enjoyed for more than 15 years as a physician may well start to crack, as a result of speaking openly about my view on vaccines, which, when administered without fully informed consent, are a violation of patient trust and a threat to their health.

Expanding List of Quacks

The growing crowd of physician-quacks comes armed with determination. Once they realize what vaccines have done – and continue to do – to their patients, and that no one involved is accountable or responsible, they are compelled to take a deeper look. However, they are vulnerable to the whims of an industry backed by billions of dollars and supported by a mesmerized, deceived medical culture. Doctors are under the spell of a media that censors the truth and limits access to any information that contradicts the vaccination paradigm.  They take risks when they speak out; they do this to support a trusting, under-informed and vulnerable humanity. Their rewards come in the form of the many thanks from the millions of parents and patients who are grateful that there are physicians who support their personal beliefs and acknowledge their often tragic observations.

The truth is dark and complicated, and not readily visible to the physician who starts to question convention because he can no longer live with the apparent contradictions. If he dares to question the problems of the vaccination program, he must then critically examine the entire system, one that turns a blind eye to the deterioration of health after someone receives a vaccine.  Doctors should be asking questions such as: what are the underlying causes of our national epidemic of chronic illnesses that fill our sick care institutions?  What are the incestuous, revolving-door relationships between government/ public health, pharma and the insurance companies, and why is this problem? Why have so many infants and children developed so many formerly unheard of illnesses in their age group? Why is the link to vaccination uniformly dismissed as non-causal? Sadly enough, few physicians question the current paradigm. Few want to risk being labeled as “quacks”.  It is much simpler- and safer- to remain comfortably within the status quo, no matter how sordid it has become.

As this avaricious machine tramples on life, there are people being cured of cancer, healed of supposed chronic degenerative diseases, discarding their unnecessary medications and making themselves well by exiting the System that gave them few options and offered little hope. Doctors providing “alternative” methods of healing are scoffed at, challenged by their state medical boards, belittled by their colleagues. And they are called quacks.

This word “quack” has been turned into a weapon, unleashed on those who notice the scores of patients spiraling to their death at the hands of FDA-approved, CDC-sanctioned medical interventions of big pharma and their affiliated institutions. The self proclaimed authorities of “science-based-medicine,” the paid pharma bloggers, “Quack Watchers” and many others who proselytize the message of drug companies and attempt to discredit the time-tested healing methods used by alternative practitioners, are destined to fail. I take comfort in the fact that the masses are becoming increasingly disgruntled with the results of their conventional medical options. The public trust and confidence in what pharma and conventional medical doctors have to offer is, thankfully, dying.

The day will come when doctors will freely combine their scientific medical education with time-tested alternative treatments to build a new paradigm.  The future of medicine will utilize the healing arts passed down through generations and adopted from other cultures, tools that are nearly defunct from disuse and systematic attack.  Physicians will make a living by maintaining health rather than from treating disease and creating new sickness.  The physicians listed on my personal “quack list” will be heroes and known for taking huge risks to change the course of healthcare in this country and beyond. These physician “quacks” already have thousands of patients who can attest to the fact that their doctor’s unconventional medical innovations, combined with their conventional medical knowledge,  enriched and healed their lives, without prescription drugs and they remained healthy without vaccines.

Those who have attempted to warp our reputations by calling us “quacks” will not succeed. The primal wisdom of the masses is more powerful than all the propaganda promoted by the misnamed “science-based medicine” and “quack watchers.” The pillars that support the sick-care industry are cracking and its architects are getting desperate.  In due time, the Yellow Pages will be abundant in so-called quacks.  Quack watchers really should watch carefully.  The revolution has begun.

International Medical Council on Vaccination
www.imcv.info

Permission is given to reproduce and distribute.

Pig weed growing to mammoth proportions due to Round Up, studies clearly showing sterility and organ damage from genetically modified seeds, continued manipulation of what God has given us, and stock holders are worrying about their profits???!!! They should be worrying themselves with the mass poisoning of the American people and the fact that the United States government has become a terrorist organization pushing and coercing other countries to use these pathetic and dangerous products…. perhaps mercenaries is a more apt terms since this is not ideological as much as it is “for profit”.

By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD (AP)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Monsanto Co., the world’s biggest seed maker, said Wednesday its fiscal third-quarter net income tumbled 45 percent as it shrank its Roundup weedkiller business amid intense generic competition.

As Roundup sales have flagged, Monsanto last year said it was accelerating its long-term strategy to shift the majority of its business from chemicals and herbicides to genetically altered seeds. But the transition has been rougher than expected as growing generic competition from China drives steep declines in Roundup sales, and Monsanto has struggled to entice farmers to buy up its pricey genetically modified seed.

The effect of cheaper knock-offs on Roundup is akin to the drop in sales that drugmakers see when blockbuster treatments go off-patent. Drugmaker Pfizer Inc., for example, is striving to come up with a drug that can replace the sales it will lose when its $11.5 billion-a-year cholesterol blockbuster Lipitor starts competing with generic versions at the end of 2011.

In May Monsanto slashed its full-year earnings outlook as it cut prices on Roundup. On Wednesday, the company backed the revised guidance, continuing to expect 2010 earnings per share between $2.40 and $2.60 before restructuring costs. CEO Hugh Grant said Monsanto is implementing a new strategy to offer cheaper genetically engineered seeds along with its premium varieties that have multiple engineered traits.

Grant said the cheaper seeds are an answer to farmers’ concern that Monsanto’s new products, like its SmartStax corn seeds, are too expensive. That has opened the door to competitors who offered cheaper seeds carrying fewer traits. Soft demand kept corn seed sales flat at $1 billion in the third quarter, with soybean sales rising just 2 percent to $549 million.

“They need more products at more price points,” Grant said of farmers. “The beauty of that (request) is that it’s all within our control. We don’t have to go out and invent something.”

As Monsanto focuses on its seed sales, it has slashed the herbicide division that was once a pillar of its business, cutting 900 jobs. The majority of Monsanto’s Roundup sales are to farmers who use it to kill weeds alongside the company’s genetically engineered “Roundup ready” plants that withstand the herbicide.

Roundup is still effective, Grant said, although some weeds are growing resistant to it. But the herbicide just isn’t profitable now that prices are so low. Global Roundup prices have crashed since generic Chinese versions flooded the market in recent years, eating into the profit margin Monsanto can reap from each gallon.

Going forward, most of Monsanto’s Roundup sales will be a way to support the company’s Roundup ready seeds, said Monsanto Chief Financial Officer Carl Casale. With Roundup’s role as a revenue-generator diminished, the company doesn’t expect to see more volatility from its declining herbicide business.

The St. Louis company said its net income dropped to $384 million, or 70 cents a share, in the quarter ended May 31, from $694 million, or $1.25 a share, a year ago. Excluding $86 million in restructuring costs linked to downsizing the Roundup unit, profit would have totaled 81 cents per share.

Revenue fell to $2.96 billion from $3.16 billion a year ago, with sales in Monsanto’s agricultural productivity unit – which includes Roundup – declining 34 percent to $600 million.

Analysts had been looking for a profit of 79 cents per share on higher revenue of $3.17 billion, according to a Thomson Reuters poll. Monsanto shares slipped $1.12, or 2.4 percent, to close at $46.22 Wednesday. Earlier in the session the stock fell as low as $45.30, its lowest point since November 2006.

At $2.36 billion in sales, seeds and genomics represented the bulk of the company’s quarterly revenue. Monsanto said that 5 percent growth rate year-over-year is consistent with its expectations. It plans to continue to grow its research and development budget to bolster its seed pipeline, but said 2011 spending will rise at a smaller rate than it has over the past few years.

“Monsanto now becomes a pure-play seeds and traits company,” Casale said on a conference call with analysts Wednesday. “That means it’s seed and traits growth that matters.”

Monsanto’s strategy won’t work unless the company can deliver on its promise of squeezing more profits from its new lines of genetically engineered seeds, said Laurence Alexander, an analyst with Jefferies & Co.

Monsanto claims some new strains of engineered corn, for example, will be 20 to 30 percent more profitable than current varieties, Alexander said. But farmers will need to see the benefit of the seeds in order to be willing to pay the higher prices that will deliver those strong margins. If that doesn’t happen, Monsanto’s research and development dollars will have been wasted.

“If it turns out that you’re running to stand still, then it’s a lot less exciting,” Alexander said.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Associated Press

It does not feel good to bring a lawsuit against the very country and government that you took an oath to serve and protect, and knowing that to uphold that oath might possibly come at the expense of your own life. On the flip side, our families, who take the oath to serve and protect this great country, expect our government to provide the medical care and family supports that our families require to, uphold our oath to serve and protect our great nation.

In spite of the lack of medical care and family supports our men and women in uniform have upheld their oath. In spite of the lack of medical care and family supports our spouses have held down the home fronts. We have upheld our end of the oath and in doing so we all have paid a heavy price, but none heavier than the price our children have paid. Over the years I have spoken with many service members who have been wounded in action; “wounded warriors’. Every single one of them has told me that what they have endured pales in comparison to what our children with autism endure. Our government has failed to provide medical care and our military dependent children with autism have been the ones left laying wounded on the battlefield. The very government we swore to protect could care less, and we have simply had enough!

In the summer of 2005, TRICARE implemented the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) Program, and acceptance into this program is the only way a military dependent child with autism can receive medically necessary Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Keep in mind the child must be accepted into this program and that determination is made by someone sitting behind a desk that has never met, let alone examined, your child. If your child is accepted into ECHO, there is no guarantee that they will receive ABA as the child’s program must be run and/or overseen by a BCBA or a BCABA who is a TRICARE provider. We all know BCBA’s and BCABA’s are in high demand and short supply. To top all this off, TRICARE capped the annual benefit for ABA at $36,000. Retiree’s dependents are not eligible for ECHO, nor are those not on active duty, in the Guard and Reserve even though they are in most cases eligible to receive basic TRICARE benefits or have the option to purchase them as one would regular health insurance.

On June 24, 2010 I received a letter  (BELOW) put forth by Mantese, Honigman, Rossman & Williamson P.C. I’ve been waiting a very long time to see this come about for our military dependent children with autism. What far too many don’t understand is that yes, on paper, our kids have the ABA benefit, but what most don’t realize is that consistently over the past five years, less than 10% of dependents with autism are enrolled in ECHO because of a laborious enrollment process, and confused people charged with not only getting the information out, but the enrollment process as well.

My feeling, simply speaking as a parent, is that TRICARE is just fine with that. It lowers their expenses by decreasing paid claims, and increases their bottom line. That makes the Department of Defense happy because we all know that no one wants to pay for medically necessary care related to autism. If you read the letter sent to military families from the Attorney’s BELOW you will see that the DoD claims that TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) “has not made a formal policy determination as to whether ABA services might be covered as a Basic [Tricare] Program medical benefit”.

Like I said, I’m just speaking as a parent, and one who has had a few conversations of her own with the General quoted in the letter from the Attorney’s, but I cannot think of any way to make a more formal statement than DoD and TMA already have. TMA has clearly stated, in their Policy Manual for YEARS, that ABA is only available as a “special education benefit” through acceptance into the ECHO Program, which is completely separate from the basic TRICARE benefits. Any change to the TMA Policy Manual must be done through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and that requires legislation  being passed typically in both the House and  Senate and then the House and Senate versions are essentially meshed to provide something everyone is happy with that the President then signs into law. This happens every year; it is how we got an increase of $2,500 a month to $36,000 a year for ABA, and exactly why we have continually asked Congressional leaders to, introduce and get passed, language that would move the ABA treatment under the basic TRICARE program, and do away with the annual cap. Forgive my sarcastic and somewhat jaded tone, but puhleeeze… The DoD just wants the Berge case dismissed because if it is, then the DoD won’t face the risk of having to compensate military families for what they should have been providing all along, which is access to medically necessary treatment for autism without the discrimination of the ECHO Program, equal access for Retiree’s dependents, and the option for Guard and Reserve to access these benefits as well.

There are four affidavits available for you to review (BELOW); one for spouse’s of active duty members, one for spouse’s of retiree’s, one for active duty members, and one for retired members. If you can truthfully attest to and sign one of these affidavits, please do so and return it by July 5, 2010, to:

Brendan Frye, Esq.

Mantese, Honigman, Rossman, and Williamson, P.C.

1361 E. Big Beaver

Troy, MI 48083

Or email it to: bfrey@manteselaw.com

The Department of Defense has already had an opportunity to correct this situation, multiple opportunities in fact, and the same is true for Tricare Management Activity. This is an opportunity for all military families who have dependents with autism to have their voices heard on behalf of all our children. As a parent who has lived this nightmare and been contacted by so many who have lived the same, at this point, I would trust a judge before I would trust the DoD and TMA. DoD and TMA left my boys on the battlefield. I had to go retrieve them on my own.

Disclosure: I have no idea if our family will be included in the class action, but hell yes I am signing the active duty spouse affidavit. I was made aware of this situation because I have been involved in the legislation pertaining to the issues for almost 3 years, and my son went without medical care in the form of ABA for 3 years due to TMA and DoD policies.

About the author of this article:

Angela Warner is an Air Force spouse and mom to four children under the age of 11. Her older two children are recovering from autism. Angela is the Military Contributing Editor for Age of Autism, the DoD Liaison for SafeMinds, and one of Autism One’s Liaison’s for Military Families.

MANTESE HONIGMAN ROSSMAN & WILLIAMSON, P.C.

ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS

Re:      Berge v. United States of America, U.S. Department of Defense, TRICARE Management Activity, and Robert M. Gates.

Dear Military Family:

I am an attorney representing Kenneth Berge, a retired Master Sergeant who served his country honorably in the U.S. Air Force, Dawn Berge, and their child with autism. The Berges have filed a putative class action lawsuit on behalf of all military families, both active duty and retired, seeking TRICARE Basic health benefit payments for all medically necessary Applied Behavior Analysis therapy for children with autism. We allege that payment of these benefits is required pursuant to the Military Health Benefits statue and that the Department of Defense and TRICARE Management Activity have wrongfully denied these benefits to retired TRICARE beneficiaries and have wrongfully capped these benefits at $36,000 for active duty TRICARE beneficiaries. The case is currently pending in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

We allege that benefits for ABA therapy have been wrongfully denied and/or capped for TRICARE beneficiaries because the Department of Defense has determined, in the words of former TRICARE Deputy Director, Major General Elder Granger, that “ABA therapy is an educational, as opposed to a medical benefit, and as such, is available only under” the Extended Care Health Option that has a $36,000 cap and is only available to active duty service members. However, in response to the Complaint we filed in United States District Court, the Department of Defense claims that “‘TMA has not made a formal policy determination as to whether ABA services might be covered’ as a Basic Program medical benefit.” The Department of Defense is seeking to dismiss the Berge’s case on this basis, for reconsideration by TMA.

If you have a child with autism for which you have filed a claim with TRICARE for ABA therapy benefits, we hope you will be able to assist our efforts by signing one of the attached affidavits. The purpose of the affidavits is to show the judge that TMA has already made an official policy determination that it has applied uniformly to deny and/or cap ABA therapy benefits, remand of the case is futile, and the Judge should decide the

MANTESE HONIGMAN ROSSMAN & WILLIAMSON, P.C.

ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS

Military Family June 24, 2010 Page 2

question of whether ABA therapy is a medically necessary benefit that TRICARE is required to cover under the TRICARE Basic program. The attached affidavits are substantially similar; however, one is for retired TRICARE beneficiaries and the other is for active duty service members. If you can truthfully attest to the facts contained in one of the affidavits, please be sure to sign the correct version and return it to me either by e-mail atbfrey@manteselaw.com. or by mail at:

Brendan Frey, Esq.

E MAIL CORRESPONDANCE:

Mantese Honigman Rossman and Williamson, P.C.

1361 E. Big Beaver Road

Troy, Michigan 48083

We are shocked that the Department of Defense claims that it denied and/or capped ABA therapy benefits for countless families without actually deciding the question of whether ABA therapy is available as a TRICARE Basic health benefit, and we imagine you are too. We are pushing forward with this case and we hope that our efforts will bring relief in the near future for all military families who have children with autism. If our case is certified as a class action and we prevail on the merits, all military families who have children with autism and who have been wrongfully denied ABA therapy benefits may be entitled to payment for benefits that were previously denied.

This is an urgent matter. We would like to receive the signed affidavits by no later than Monday July 5^th, 2010. If you can truthfully sign one of the affidavits please do so and return it to me as soon as possible.

Very truly yours,

MANTESE HONIGMAN ROSSMAN AND WILLIAMSON, P.C.

Attorneys for the Berge family

Brendan H. Frey

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

AFFIDAVITS:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SPOUSE/ACTIVE DUTY

AFFIDAVIT OF ___________________­­­_______

1.         I have personal knowledge of the following facts, and if sworn as a witness, I would be competent to testify thereto.

2.         My spouse is an active duty member of a United States Armed Service.

3.         I have a child with autism.

4.         My family and I, including my child with autism, are eligible for TRICARE Basic health benefits.

5.         I have previously filed a claim with, and/or requested authorization from TRICARE Management Activity or one of its contractors for payment toward Applied Behavior Analysis (“ABA”) therapy for my child with autism.

6.         I was informed that ABA therapy is only a covered benefit under the Extended Care Health Option, and is therefore subject to a $36,000 annual cap.

7.         Upon information and belief, any failure or delay in receiving the medically necessary number of hours of ABA therapy will probably have catastrophic developmental, emotional, and/or cognitive consequences for my child with autism.

I declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing matters are true and correct, and that I have personal knowledge of such matters:

Executed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, on this ___ day of _______, 2010.

________________________________

Signature

________________________________

Print Name

______________________________                 ________________________________

Mailing Address                                                       E-mail Address

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SPOUSE RETIREE

AFFIDAVIT OF ___________________­­­_______

1.         I have personal knowledge of the following facts, and if sworn as a witness, I would be competent to testify thereto.

2.         My spouse is a retiree of a United States Armed Service.

3.         I have a child with autism.

4.         My family and I, including my child with autism, are eligible for TRICARE Basic health benefits.

5.         I have previously filed a claim with, and/or requested authorization from TRICARE Management Activity or one of its contractors for payment toward Applied Behavior Analysis (“ABA”) therapy for my child with autism.

6.         I was informed that ABA therapy is only a covered benefit under the Extended Care Health Option, which is only available to active duty service members, and therefore my child with autism is ineligible for ABA therapy benefit payments.

7.         Upon information and belief, any failure or delay in receiving the medically necessary number of hours of ABA therapy will probably have catastrophic developmental, emotional, and/or cognitive consequences for my child with autism.

I declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing matters are true and correct, and that I have personal knowledge of such matters:

Executed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, on this ___ day of _______, 2010.

________________________________

Signature

________________________________

Print Name

___________________________________  ______________________________________

Mailing Address                                           E-mail Address

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACTIVE DUTY:

AFFIDAVIT OF ___________________­­­_______

1.         I have personal knowledge of the following facts, and if sworn as a witness, I would be competent to testify thereto.

2.         I am an active duty member of a United States Armed Service.

3.         I have a child with autism.

4.         My dependants and I, including my child with autism, are eligible for TRICARE Basic health benefits.

5.         I have previously filed a claim with, and/or requested authorization from TRICARE Management Activity or one of its contractors for payment toward Applied Behavior Analysis (“ABA”) therapy for my child with autism.

6.         I was informed that ABA therapy is only a covered benefit under the Extended Care Health Option, and is therefore subject to a $36,000 annual cap.

7.         Upon information and belief, any failure or delay in receiving the medically necessary number of hours of ABA therapy will probably have catastrophic developmental, emotional, and/or cognitive consequences for my child with autism.

I declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing matters are true and correct, and that I have personal knowledge of such matters:

Executed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, on this ___ day of _______, 2010.

________________________________

Signature

________________________________

Print Name

______________________________                 ________________________________

Mailing Address                                                       E-mail Address

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RETIREE:

AFFIDAVIT OF ___________________­­­_______

1.         I have personal knowledge of the following facts, and if sworn as a witness, I would be competent to testify thereto.

2.         I am a retiree of a United States Armed Service.

3.         I have a child with autism.

4.         My dependants and I, including my child with autism, are eligible for TRICARE Basic health benefits.

5.         I have previously filed a claim with, and/or requested authorization from TRICARE Management Activity or one of its contractors for payment toward Applied Behavior Analysis (“ABA”) therapy for my child with autism.

6.         I was informed that ABA therapy is only a covered benefit under the Extended Care Health Option, which is only available to active duty service members, and therefore my child with autism is ineligible for ABA therapy benefit payments.

7.         Upon information and belief, any failure or delay in receiving the medically necessary number of hours of ABA therapy will probably have catastrophic developmental, emotional, and/or cognitive consequences for my child with autism.

I declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing matters are true and correct, and that I have personal knowledge of such matters:

Executed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, on this ___ day of _______, 2010.

________________________________

Signature

________________________________

Print Name

___________________________________  ______________________________________

Mailing Address                                           E-mail Address

This study states that retroviruses could potentially be derived from lab animals and as many of us know, animals (to include rodents) are often used to grow the viruses that are used in vaccines. Can anyone say SV40 or PCV? (the viruses PCV I and II were recently found in the rotavirus vaccines available in America and Simian Virus 40 was found in the early polio vaccine). This seems to me, to be proof that we haven’t learned much about retrovirus transmission in the past 50 plus years! This is something that should be looked into after Merck and Glaxxo recently discovered that not only did they not know that the PCV I or II were in their vaccines, but still do not know the ramifications of that retrovirus on the future health of our children.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Endogenous retroviruses as potential hazards for vaccines.

Miyazawa T.

Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Department of Cell Biology, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin-Kawaracho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. takavet@gmail.com

PMID: 20378372 [PubMed - in process]

The White House, Office of the Press Secretary

Executive Order– Establishing the National Prevention, Health

Promotion, and Public Health Council

EXECUTIVE ORDER

ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL PREVENTION, HEALTH PROMOTION, AND PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 4001 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment. There is established within the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council (Council).

Sec. 2. Membership.

(a) The Surgeon General shall serve as the Chair of the Council, which shall be composed of:

(1) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(2) the Secretary of Labor;
(3) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(4) the Secretary of Transportation;
(5) the Secretary of Education;
(6) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(7) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
(8) the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission;
(9) the Director of National Drug Control Policy;
(10) the Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council;
(11) the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs;
(12) the Chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service; and
(13) the head of any other executive department or agency that the Chair may, from time to time, determine is appropriate.

(b) The Council shall meet at the call of the Chair.

Sec. 3. Purposes and Duties. The Council shall:

(a) provide coordination and leadership at the Federal level, and among all executive departments and agencies, with respect to prevention, wellness, and health promotion practices, the public health system, and integrative health care in the United States;

(b) develop, after obtaining input from relevant stakeholders, a national prevention, health promotion, public health, and integrative health-care strategy that incorporates the most effective and achievable means of improving the health status of Americans and reducing the incidence of preventable illness and disability in the United States, as further described in section 5 of this order;

(c) provide recommendations to the President and the Congress concerning the most pressing health issues confronting the United States and changes in Federal policy to achieve national wellness, health promotion, and public health goals, including the reduction of tobacco use, sedentary behavior, and poor nutrition;

(d) consider and propose evidence-based models, policies, and innovative approaches for the promotion of transformative models of prevention, integrative health, and public health on individual and community levels across the United States;

(e) establish processes for continual public input, including input from State, regional, and local leadership communities and other relevant stakeholders, including Indian tribes and tribal organizations;

(f) submit the reports required by section 6 of this order; and

(g) carry out such other activities as are determined appropriate by the President.

Sec. 4. Advisory Group.

(a) There is established within the Department of Health and Human Services an Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health (Advisory Group), which shall report to the Chair of the Council.

(b) The Advisory Group shall be composed of not more than 25 members or representatives from outside the Federal Government appointed by the President and shall include a diverse group of licensed health professionals, including integrative health practitioners who are representative of or have expertise in:

(1) worksite health promotion;
(2) community services, including community health centers;
(3) preventive medicine;
(4) health coaching;
(5) public health education;
(6) geriatrics; and
(7) rehabilitation medicine.

(c) The Advisory Group shall develop policy and program recommendations and advise the Council on lifestyle-based chronic disease prevention and management, integrative health care practices, and health promotion.

Sec. 5. National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy. Not later than March 23, 2011, the Chair, in consultation with the Council, shall develop and make public a national prevention, health promotion, and public health strategy (national strategy), and shall review and revise it periodically. The national strategy shall:

(a) set specific goals and objectives for improving the health of the United States through federally supported prevention, health promotion, and public health programs, consistent with ongoing goal setting efforts conducted by specific agencies;

(b) establish specific and measurable actions and timelines to carry out the strategy, and determine accountability for meeting those timelines, within and across Federal departments and agencies; and

(c) make recommendations to improve Federal efforts relating to prevention, health promotion, public health, and integrative health-care practices to ensure that Federal efforts are consistent with available standards and evidence.

Sec. 6. Reports. Not later than July 1, 2010, and annually thereafter until January 1, 2015, the Council shall submit to the President and the relevant committees of the Congress, a report that:

(a) describes the activities and efforts on prevention, health promotion, and public health and activities to develop the national strategy conducted by the Council during the period for which the report is prepared;

(b) describes the national progress in meeting specific prevention, health promotion, and public health goals defined in the national strategy and further describes corrective actions recommended by the Council and actions taken by relevant agencies and organizations to meet these goals;

(c) contains a list of national priorities on health promotion and disease prevention to address lifestyle behavior modification (including smoking cessation, proper nutrition, appropriate exercise, mental health, behavioral health, substance-use disorder, and domestic violence screenings) and the prevention measures for the five leading disease killers in the United States;

(d) contains specific science-based initiatives to achieve the measurable goals of the Healthy People 2020 program of the Department of Health and Human Services regarding nutrition, exercise, and smoking cessation, and targeting the five leading disease killers in the United States;

(e) contains specific plans for consolidating Federal health programs and centers that exist to promote healthy behavior and reduce disease risk (including eliminating programs and offices determined to be ineffective in meeting the priority goals of the Healthy People 2020 program of the Department of Health and Human Services);

(f) contains specific plans to ensure that all Federal health-care programs are fully coordinated with science-based prevention recommendations by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

(g) contains specific plans to ensure that all prevention programs outside the Department of Health and Human Services are based on the science-based guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under subsection (d) of this section.

Sec. 7. Administration.

(a) The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide funding and administrative support for the Council and the Advisory Group to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.

(b) All executive departments and agencies shall provide information and assistance to the Council as the Chair may request for purposes of carrying out the Council’s functions, to the extent permitted by law.

(c) Members of the Advisory Group shall serve without compensation, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707), consistent with the availability of funds.

Sec. 8. General Provisions.

(a) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C App.) may apply to the Advisory Group, any functions of the President under that Act, except that of reporting to the Congress, shall be performed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in accordance with the guidelines that have been issued by the Administrator of General Services.

(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(1) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(2) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

BARACK OBAMA

THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 10, 2010

3^rd Annual Galesburg Autism Conference

July 16^th & 17^th Both days: 8:30am – 4:30pm

^{WHERE:  In the Crist Center:   Carl Sandburg College, 2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd. Galesburg, IL.}

pic from last year’s conference

July 16^th Paula Kluth

“You’re Going To Love This Kid”: Educating Students with Autism In Inclusive Schools

In this interactive session, participants will learn practical ways of supporting students with autism spectrum labels & other disabilities within a general education classroom. Topics addressed include defining (and redefining) autism, listening to the voices of those with autism, differentiating instruction, creating more active and responsive lessons, making the classroom comfortable, and providing opportunities for communication across the day. Favorite websites, classroom examples, and collaborative exercises will all be featured in this day-long seminar. Dr. Kluth will focus on the importance of pushing beyond access and participation and asking schools to challenge students and to understand each learner as complex and capable.

July 17^th

Barry Smeltzer, MPAS, PA-C

After one of his children was diagnosed with Autism, Barry became focused on the medical issues affecting children with developmental delays.  His passion for helping his son and others led him to become a Defeat Autism Now! Clinician and ultimately join the team at True Health Medical Center in Naperville IL, led by Dr. Anju Usman.

Barry is well-versed in utilizing patient history, exam, and complex labs to implement numerous biomedical interventions, including individualized methylation strategies, detoxification, biofilm and apraxia protocols, mitochondrial and antioxidant support.  He received his Masters in Physician Assistant Studies from Finch University in 2000.  He went on to work in the areas of Emergency Medicine and Orthopedics for over eight years.

July 17^th Dr. Mayer Eisenstein, MD, JD, MPH

Dr. Mayer Eisenstein is a graduate of the University of Illinois Medical School, the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Public Health, and the John Marshall Law School.  In his 33 years in medicine, he and his practice have cared for over 75,000 parents, grandparents and children. He is Board Certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners, American Board of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians.  He is a recipient of the Howard Fellowship, Health Professional Scholarship, University of Illinois School of Medicine Scholarship, and is a member of the Illinois Bar.
He is the author of: Give Birth at Home With The Home Birth Advantage, Safer Medicine, Don’t Vaccinate Before You Educate and many more!

July 17^th Curt & Kimberly Linderman: Detoxing Your World

Curt & Kimberly are the parents of four, their youngest was vaccine injured at 20 months of age and diagnosed with PDD NOS at the age of 2 ½. Curt and Kimberly are the hosts of Linderman LIVE, a three time a week international radio show focusing on autism treatment, policy and controversial issues regarding environmental causation. Kimberly is a frequent speaker and mentor to the parents of newly diagnosed children on the spectrum. Kim is also the directory editor of www.autismfile.com and is a member of the Autism File Magazine, the world’s leading autism publication.  Curt is a member of the Safe Minds Government Affairs Committee for the Department of Defense on vaccine issues, a frequent writer for newspaper and magazine articles, the creator of www.autismtodayonline.com, the U.S. Editor of www.autismfile.com and the North American Advertising Director for The Autism File Magazine.

July 17th, Kathryne Pirtle: Nutrient Dense Diets for Autism Recovery

Kathryne Pirtle is a world-class clarinetist whose career nearly ended because of performance difficulties caused by acid reflux, celiac disease, chronic inflammation and other health problems. As a health educator, she has given more than 60 workshops around the country with Dr. Turner and appeared on numerous radio and television shows. As the author of; Performance without Pain, (written with Dr. Turner and Sally Fallon), he President of the Weston A. Price Foundation tells the story of her recovery. Kathryne Pirtle will discuss why the principles of optimal nutrition for human health and the work of Dr. Weston A. Price are effective partners in approaching the treatment of Autism. Discover why some common nutritional advice can perpetuate digestive problems, leaky-gut and malnourishment, which can deter healing progress. Learn how focusing on a diet of nutrient-dense, enzyme-rich, traditional-foods, becomes a superior therapeutic initiative is for Autism as it can improve physical health and brain function as well as the body’s ability to detoxify.

COST: $35.00 FOR FRIDAY $25.00 FOR SATURDAY (BOTH DAYS $50.00) RSVP:  CALL:  309 335 0599 OR E MAIL: curt@autismfile.com

BOOKS! VENDORS!DOOR PRIZES! SILENT AUCTION! AND MORE!

AN ORGANIC LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED $10.00 per day (PRE ORDERED ONLY)

Once I realized that it wasn’t “by chance” that my son was the way that he was, I realized that something had to be done. More children were being hurt, more families were being broken up, more mothers were crying at night for their children and more fathers were getting pissed off or becoming single men once again.  Autism moms (mother warriors) are the most amazing people that I have ever met. They are not only their children’s mothers, but their doctors, lawyers, advocates, teachers, therapists and more. When they get angry, I liken them to the mother bear when their cubs are in danger. There’s virtually nothing worse than that!

But the fathers can be the grizzlies….there’s nothing more dangerous than a pissed off grizzly. At the risk of bearing my soul a bit, I want to explain why I am the way I am. I grew up poor. I had an abusive father and four step fathers by the time I joined the Army in 1983. I was the nerdy type, always moving to new schools and feeling like the outcast all of the time. I was bullied constantly until I finally started taking martial arts when I was fourteen. That’s when I finally realized that when you stand up for yourself and start hitting back, people stop screwing with you. When someone tries to knock you to the ground and suddenly they end up on their ass, they tend to back the hell off.

I fought in tournaments and the ring for years, (in the early nineties I was the Kuk Sool Won world champion two years in a row) and between my Army career and the martial arts, I finally began to feel as if I had some worth (I’m not saying this is right, just the way it is). I once again felt helpless when I realized that my son was vaccine injured and that this could have been avoided years earlier had the doctors, researchers and politicians listened.  That’s when I started to get really angry. I’m a fighter, always have been. When I’m backed into a corner or pushed, I strike out. That’s how I’ve always been even though it’s gotten me into trouble from time to time. It’s just the way that it is. After reading Evidence of Harm, I knew that I had to do something. I vowed that I would do everything I could to ensure that what happened to my family didn’t happen to any other.

Thinking back to that time in my life, I realize how ridiculous this must sound to you. What a dreamer! If I just told my Congressman what was going on, just related this info to my pediatrician, everything would work out, after all, nobody wants to poison our children, right? Once I figured out that the truth didn’t matter, that politics and money trump the welfare of our children, I became even angrier. That’s when I was approached to do my radio show. For two years now I have been doing this show with “my lovely wife and co-host Kimberly” and have slowly come to the conclusion that there are a lot of people out there that appreciate the way that I bring the fight to those that deserve it.

Unfortunately, there are many out there that feel that I go too far, that calling these idiots out for their transgressions and lies and demanding action is too controversial. Recently I stated clearly and matter-of-factly, (after reading Dr. Wakefield’s book: Callous Disregard), that if the facts in this incredible man’s book are true (and I believe them to be true), that the people involved in the travesty that took place in England should be tried for crimes against humanity and if convicted, should be treated as the criminals in The people’s Republic of China are treated (i.e. taken out of the courthouse and summarily shot for their transgressions). I even offered, (and the offer still stands) that if they needed someone to pull the trigger, I would pay for my own flight and mete out the sentence myself. I also truly believe that there are a number of parents here in America and abroad that feel the same way.

This has caused quite the shit storm. Now I am “threatening” the lives of others apparently. What a crock! Twenty plus years of politically correct nonsense! Where has that gotten us? Are children now being poisoned less? As we stand around politely asking our pediatricians to not only stop poisoning our children but to listen to the parents of the patients they already have, are we getting anywhere? Have the numbers of vaccines diminished? Are they treating our children or just simply saying that four years of diarrhea is “just autism”?

When will we stop playing by their rules? At what point do we simply say “we’re taking our ball and going home”? When are we going to stop playing well with others? When are we going to finally say “you’re poisoning our children, screw you, I don’t owe you a damn thing, much less respect for your friggin PhD”? Step out of the box; stop playing nice, demand justice for your child and the ones to come.

When was the last time that you were able to see a pregnant woman or an infant in a stroller and have nothing but happy thoughts? Are you like me? Do you automatically go up to the parents and pass them a business card or say something about educating themselves on the vaccines and nutrition issues? They took that joy from me. Did they take it from you as well? Demand it back. I WANT THAT JOY BACK! You should as well.

As far as taking a step back and reevaluating my stance, I don’t think so. As long as there’s fight still left in me, I will take the fight to them. I will beat them until they are up against the ropes, drive them to their knees and when they’re down; put the metaphorical boot to them. That’s how you win…….