Gov. Rod Blagojevich's power to rewrite legislation could give hope to thousands of Illinois parents who deal with expensive diagnoses and treatment for children with autism.

The governor proposed July 13 to tack on an insurance break for parents of children with autism to another bill after the proposal was originally shot down in January. If the proposal passes, insurance companies would be required to provide patients with autism a $36,000 maximum yearly coverage plan for treatment until age 21.

The proposal is now coupled with a bill that requires employees' health plans to cover preventative physical therapy treatments for multiple sclerosis.

State Rep. Robert Pritchard, R-Sycamore, has been an avid supporter of this bill. Although Blagojevich is trying to use his amendatory veto power to transfer the autism proposal to the existing bill, Pritchard said, there still needs to be more effort from everyone to make it happen.

Pritchard said the government does not realize how serious autism is and the amount of children it affects every day.

"Children across the country suffer from this disorder. Without the proper treatment, they might never be able to function," Pritchard said.

One in every 150 children in the United States suffers from autism, according to the Centers for Disease and Control. Autism is a brain disorder that impairs social, emotional and communication skills.