FYI: AZ "HB 2207: Behavior Analysts" Passes in the Legislature

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..."

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Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
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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,

FYI: Steven's Law Goes Into Effect in Arizona

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.

The Arizona Autism Coalition has provided a couple of guides on Steven's Law,

1. A powerpoint presentation on Steven's Law and what it states.
Steven's Law Facts and Information
Posted May 5, 2009

and

2. A step by step guide,
Steven’s Law Step-by Step Eligibility Questions
Posted June 29, 2009

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Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
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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,

NEWS: "Will Schwarzenegger and Obama Require Insurers to Pay for Autism Care?"

News story from the July 1, 2009 Huffington Post.

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 been ruling 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 (...)

FULL STORY AT THE HUFFINGTON POST

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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,

ANNOUNCEMENT: Upcoming Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Full Committee Meeting - July 15, 2009

July 15, 2009 Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Full Committee Meeting. Links for background added to the announcement.

The draft agenda of the meeting

The e-announcement:

"A meeting of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) full committee will take place on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET at: The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center/The Polaris Room (Overflow: The Oceanic Room)/1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW/ Washington, DC 20004. The meeting will be open to the public, with attendance limited to space available in the main room and overflow room. The agenda for this meeting includes a joint meeting of the IACC and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) Vaccine Safety Working Group to discuss vaccine safety and autism in the morning. Other agenda items include presentations on the NIH Autism Centers of ExcellenceNational Database for Autism Research (NDAR), and discussion of services-related activities and analysis of the autism research portfolio. Time will be allotted for public comment.

The latest information about the meeting, including online registration, draft agenda, remote access to the meeting via conference call and videocast, and detailed instructions for signing up for public comment can be found at: http://iacc.hhs.gov/events/2009/full-committee-mtg-announcement-july15.shtml."

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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,