Local Workshop To Educate Parents on the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Ways to Access ASD Coverage & Treatment

Our States Insurance coverage has made getting services more difficult for many families, because the law also changed how Regional Centers provides ABA services to families. I've talked to so many families who are struggling and maybe this workshop will help. If this workshop is not near you, you may want to see if there's a CARD office or something like it in your area offering training.  

Thanks Doreen for addressing the problem :) 

Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) to Host Free Thousand Oaks Workshop for Parents to Learn About Autism Insurance Coverage

The workshop will educate parents on the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and the most effective ways to access coverage and treatment for autism.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2014) - Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) presents a free two-hour workshop, titled “California Insurance Funding for Autism,” to help parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) navigate their way through the insurance coverage process.  Parents will learn what must be covered under California law and the most effective ways to access coverage.  The workshop takes place on Saturday, March 1, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the CARD treatment center in Thousand Oaks, located at 325 E. Hillcrest Drive, Suite 140.  Refreshments and light snacks will be provided.  Attendees must register by Feb. 27, 2014 to d.plump@centerforautism.com.

California is one of the 27 states that, effective Jan. 1, 2014, now offers autism insurance coverage for applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy through its state exchange, the insurance marketplace created as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly referred to as Obamacare.  In addition, the California autism insurance mandate (SB 946), implemented on July 1, 2012, requires most health plans to cover ABA therapy for individuals with ASD. 
“Many families are struggling to access the treatment that is mandated by California law,” said Bryce Miler, CARD director of contracts.  “With this seminar, we hope to empower parents with the knowledge necessary to gain coverage for their children.”

Attendees will learn what insurance companies will and will not cover, types of plans and rules regarding coverage, effective strategies to maximize benefits, how to understand the complexities of different insurance carriers, which plans must comply with SB 946 and ACA, and what to know during open enrollment.

ABA is the only scientifically validated treatment for ASD, and research shows it is most effective when delivered early and at a high level of intensity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every 88 children in America is diagnosed with ASD, making it more prevalent than pediatric cancer, juvenile diabetes, and pediatrics AIDS combined.

About Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)
CARD treats individuals of all ages who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at its 26 treatment centers around the globe. CARD was founded in 1990 by leading autism expert and clinical psychologist Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA-D.  CARD treats individuals with ASD using the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), which is empirically proven to be the most effective method for treating individuals with ASD and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Surgeon General. CARD employs a dedicated team of over 1,000 individuals across the nation and internationally. For more information, visit www.centerforautism.com.