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Maryland legislation addresses inequities in care under Medicaid… The Maryland Legislature has passed two bills addressing burdensome requirements for autism care under Medicaid. These bills are now headed to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. Companion bills, … a requirement of private insurance plans in Maryland. In 2016, Maryland filed a Medicaid State Plan Amendment which added coverage for applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children with an autism diagnosis. That amendment did not include …
Funding for Residential Support Services… Most families cannot afford to privately support an adult with significant behavioral and/or medical needs. Therefore, it is critical to consider … with developmental disabilities. In most states, individuals who need residential support will need to be eligible for Medicaid – a program designed to pay for intensive services. In the past, Medicaid funding was limited to those who lived in … placements for people with disabilities. To be eligible for Medicaid, a person must fit in a specific category of coverage (i.e. age 65 or above, blindness, disabilities), and meet income and assets requirements. Medicaid Home and …
Alabama Governor signs autism insurance reform bill… Autism Speaks joins the Autism Society of Alabama in applauding Governor Kay Ivey for signing into law House Bill 284 , which requires certain health benefit plans to cover medically necessary treatment for … analysis (ABA). Governor Ivey signed HB 284 on Friday, May 19, 2017, making Alabama the 46th state to require meaningful coverage for the treatment of autism. Sponsored by Representative Jim Patterson and Senator Tom Whatley, the bill faced … Alabama’s obligation under Federal law to provide medically necessary treatment for autism under the EPSDT benefit of Medicaid. Autism Speaks estimates that the terms of coverage in HB 284 will apply to nearly 1 million Alabamians. … …
Autism Speaks representative appointed to National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Consumer Liaison group… Government Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy Kelly Headrick was recently named as a 2022 consumer liaison representative for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). In this role, Ms. Headrick will give voice to issues with coverage for autism services and mental health parity experienced by consumers of health insurance in the autism community. … state-regulated health plans. And as recently as this week, we celebrated Texas becoming the 50 th state to implement its Medicaid autism services benefit which provides coverage for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy when medically …
Pennsylvania removes insurance barriers for autism spectrum disorder… Unnecessary barriers to insurance coverage of autism benefits have historically persisted in Pennsylvania despite federal law and state precedent for the coverage of autism services. Starting in 2024, over 55,000 Pennsylvanians with autism will now benefit from … Governor Josh Shapiro’s Press Release Health Insurance Coverage of Autism Pennsylvania State-Regulated Insurance Coverage Medicaid Coverage of Autism Become an autism advocate! … Governor Shapiro Administration Makes Clear that Autism Services …
Advocacy Perspective: During Black History Month, A Call To Action To Advance Health Equity … Black History Month is a time to honor the resilience of Black leaders who have come before us and mobilized movements to eliminate racial injustice, in an effort to make our country and our world a better … I was proud to work with leading maternal health advocates to introduce legislative efforts to strengthen healthcare coverage for low-income women, being very specific to call out the experiences and needs of African American women. Research … address these gaps in access and coverage, I’ve worked with key stakeholders to advance legislative measures to strengthen Medicaid coverage for low-income individuals. Research also shows that Medicaid beneficiaries are overrepresented by …
Georgia celebrates expanded coverage of autism services… law, demonstrating the lawmakers' commitment to Georgians who need mental health support. This new law boosts protections for autistic individuals and improves coverage of autism services by Medicaid, the State Health Benefit Plan and other state-regulated health plans. It aims to enforce the federal mental health …
Understanding Social Security benefits and employment… choose not to work because they are worried about losing their benefits, like Social Security Income (SSI). The video and information below can help you make your decision. … Expedited Reinstatement .” You must apply within five years of losing your benefits due to gainful employment. What is the Medicaid Buy-In program? If you earn enough money that you do not qualify for Medicaid in your state , this program allows workers with disabilities to “buy into” Medicaid coverage. This allows you to earn more money without the risk of losing important healthcare coverage. Is there someone who …
Autism Speaks commends Tennessee as it becomes 50th state requiring that insurance plans cover autism… 50th state to take action clarifying that state-regulated health benefit plans must cover all medically necessary treatment for autism. On August 1, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance issued a bulletin requiring all individual, … President and CEO Angela Geiger. "The autism community, including the volunteers who have tirelessly advocated for this coverage, appreciate the leadership of Tennessee’s Interim Commissioner Carter Lawrence for the positive impact this measure … While Autism Speaks applauds the advances in Tennessee, gaps and caps on coverage still exist in other state regulated and Medicaid plans as well as self-funded plans that are not regulated by state law. Autism Speaks remains committed to working …
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)… are enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expands coverage to uninsured children, up to age 19, who are not eligible for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. What is CHIP? CHIP is funded by states and the federal government to provide …