Blog of the Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis Special Interest Group (PIBA-SIB) of the Association for Behavior Analysis International
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Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG and SIG members and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website, http://www.abainternational.org
Ruling deals a blow to denials of autism treatment
Refusing to cover a costly behavioral therapy because the care provider lacks a state license violates California law, a Los Angeles County judge finds.
By Lisa Girion Los Angeles Times October 27 2009
"A tactic used by insurance companies to deny expensive behavioral therapy to autistic children has been deemed illegal by a Los Angeles judge..."
-------- Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG ----------- Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG or individual SIG member authors and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website,
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, the committee of the NIMH charged with developing a strategic plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder research per the Combating Autism Act, has issued a Request for Information. Please see below for the specifics, including confidentiality and email contact. The deadline for responding is August 21, 2009.
The purpose of this RFI is to solicit input from ASD stakeholders to inform the next update of the Strategic Plan. In the RFI form, there will be an opportunity to provide input on each section of the IACC Strategic Plan. Please include suggestions regarding missing or underrepresented knowledge areas, new opportunities needed for advancing research and knowledge about ASD, and suggestions for prioritizing research objectives.
The RFI will close on August 21, 2009. Responses must be submitted electronically via theweb-based form.
Background: The IACC was established as a result of The Combating Autism Act. The act requires that the IACC develop a strategic plan for autism research and update the strategic plan annually. The IACC is composed of both Federal and public members. The first IACC Strategic Plan for ASD Research was developed through an extensive process engaging a wide range of Federal agencies and public stakeholders.
The Strategic Plan is organized around six questions that are important for people with ASD and their families:
I. When should I be concerned?
II. How can I understand what is happening?
III. What caused this to happen and can this be prevented?
IV. Which treatments and interventions will help?
V. Where can I turn for services?
VI. What does the future hold?
Please Note: The responses that you provide will become part of the public record. You have the option of posting your responses anonymously or you may choose to have your name associated with your response. In your responses, please do not include personally identifiable information that you do not wish to make public.
Contact Information: Attention: RFI on Updating the Strategic Plan for ASD Research Office of Autism Research Coordination Office of the Director National Institute of Mental Health 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8235, MSC 9669 Bethesda, MD 20892-9669 Email: iacc@mail.nih.gov ----- END OF TEXT.
-------- Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG ----------- Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG or individual SIG member authors and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website,
Pheasant Run Resort and Spa 4051 East Main Street St. Charles, IL 60174
The meeting will be open to the public, with attendance limited to space available in the main room and overflow room. The meeting will begin with a 30 minute presentation by members of the IACC, followed by an open microphone session in which comments may be shared on topics related to services for people with ASD.
Additional suggested topics: Services for adults, community issues, family support, school services, provider services, infrastructure, evidence-based services and supports, health and safety, early diagnosis, transition to adulthood, therapies and treatments, and health and dental care.
Remote participation: Written comments on ASD services issues are welcome in advance, during and after the meeting until July 31, 2009 at: iaccservices@mail.nih.gov. Written comments received before or during the meeting may be shared with the audience by the moderators as time permits.
For more information about the IACC, please visit www.iacc.hhs.gov.
The Contact Person for this meeting is: Ms. Lina Perez Office of Autism Research Coordination National Institute of Mental Health, NIH 6001 Executive Boulevard, NSC Room 8200 Rockville, MD 20852 Phone: 301-443-6040 IACCServices@mail.nih.gov
-------- Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG ----------- Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG or individual SIG member authors and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website,
Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, launches a new national television advertising campaign calling on Congress to put an end to private insurers' blatant discrimination against children with autism.
New York, NY (PRWEB) July 8, 2009 -- Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, today launched a new national television advertising campaign highlighting private insurers' blatant discrimination against children with autism and calling on Congress to put an end to it as part of the broader health care reform effort. The thirty-second ad, "Neighbors," will air nationally on CNN, CNBC, and MSNBC.
"Neighbors" depicts two young boys who are next door neighbors - one, whose insurance has given him access to autism therapies is shown playing with other kids; the other, who has been deprived of access to therapies, sits alone on his lawn, socially isolated. The TV spot ends with a call to action, urging the American public to call United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to tell them that any national health care reform plan that does not include autism insurance reform is unacceptable.
Short of finding a cure for autism, there is nothing that can have a more significant impact on the lives of people with autism and those who love them than putting an end to insurance discrimination
Fourteen states have already acted to amend insurance laws and require insurers to cover medically-necessary, evidence-based autism therapies. In the other 36 states, insurers explicitly exclude coverage of these behavioral therapies from policies, which places a significant financial burden on families seeking to provide their children with necessary services. Applied behavior analysis therapy (ABA), recognized as an effective, evidence-based treatment for children with autism, costs upward of $50,000 a year - a cost well beyond the means of most American families. A federal law would supersede state laws and require all insurers to cover ABA.
"Short of finding a cure for autism, there is nothing that can have a more significant impact on the lives of people with autism and those who love them than putting an end to insurance discrimination," said Bob Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks. "During the presidential campaign, President Obama committed to ending autism insurance discrimination, and the pending comprehensive health reform legislation is clearly the way for that promise to be fulfilled. Now is the time to finally right this terrible wrong."
-------- Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG ----------- Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG or individual SIG member authors and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website,
Arizona HB 2207 [amended] was passed on 7/1/09, the last day of the regular session, by both houses of the legislature, transmitted to the Governor on the same day, and is pending signature.
It introduces changes to previous recently-passed statute on the licensure of Behavior Analysts in the state of Arizona which put Behavior Analysts under the purview of the Board of Psychologist Examiners. The just-passed HB 2207 specifies creation of a separate Board, some timeline changes, and other provisions of professional behavior and practice for Behavior Analysts. For status and current version of HB 2207, see the Arizona Legislative website.
As some background,
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2207 : Behavior Analysts (Barto, Bradley) Prepared for the AZ Senate on 6/22/09 (Please note that some amendments on the specifics were made to the bill during subsequent Committee work to this Fact Sheet. It's provided just as general information to the gist of the bill.)
"Purpose Specifies additional requirements for the licensure and regulation of behavior analysts by the Board of Psychologist Examiners.
Background
Laws 2008, Chapter 288, established a licensure and regulatory framework for behavior analysts under the Board of Psychologist Examiners (Board). The legislation required a person who wishes to practice as a behavior analyst to be licensed by the Board beginning January 1, 2010. Additionally, the legislation outlined the educational and experience requirements of licensees and enumerated the duties of the Board, including the licensing and regulating of behavior analysts, prescribing fees, conducting investigations of complaints and taking disciplinary action. Finally, the law designated acts of unprofessional conduct and established grounds for disciplinary action..."
-------- Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG ----------- Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG or individual SIG member authors and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website,
Disclaimer: This is provided for informational purposes only to direct to potentially helpful resources.
Steven's Law (Arizona HB 2847/SB 1253 of 2008) is the Arizona insurance mandate passed in March 2008, allowing for coverage of behavioral services for autism treatment.
Steven's Law is stated to go into effect as law on July 1, 2009.
-------- Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG ----------- Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG or individual SIG member authors and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website,
Will Schwarzenegger and Obama Require Insurers to Pay for Autism Care? Jamie Court Huffington Post, July 1, 2009
"Parents of autistic children gathered this morning at Consumer Watchdog's Los Angeles headquarters to announce a lawsuit against Governor Schwarzenegger's administration for allowing health insurers to refuse to pay for Applied Behavioral[sic] Analysis ("ABA"), an essential treatment for autism, in plain violation of the California Mental Health Parity Act.
Independent panels of doctors paid by California had beenruling in every autistic child's case that the ABA treatment was medically necessary, so insurers changed the rules of the game ... The insurers simply claimed the treatment wasn't covered, because it was educational in nature, and therefore independent panels of medical reviewers no longer had the power (...)
-------- Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG ----------- Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG or individual SIG member authors and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website,
