****News Flash! Governor Brown signs SB 946 into law, bringing autism insurance reform to California!
Part of our work at Autism Deserves Equal Coverage is advocating with policymakers for insurance reform. In 2011, Kristin did significant policy analysis work on SB 946 (Steinberg), an insurance reform bill sponsored by the Alliance of California Autism Organizations (ACAO). SB 946 was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on October 9, 2011. Kristin serves on the Steering Committee of ACAO and represents the organization in testifying on autism insurance issues before the legislature. She is also a Member of the Statewide Coordinating Council of the Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders under Senator Darrell Steinberg and Chair of its Bay Area Autism Regional Task-force (BAART) under Senator Elaine Alquist. She also serves as Autism Speaks Statewide Advocacy Chair for Californa. Here are current autism insurance advocacy alerts and resources for families and providers:
Kristin featured in press coverage on settlement agreements negotiated between California insurance regulators and insurance plans:
- "Lawmakers, insurers battle over coverage for autism," by Stephanie Sara Chong, The Bay Citizen, August 19, 2011
- "Critics call state's autism insurance settlement a "sham," by Wyatt Buchanan, San Francisco Chronicle, July 20, 2011
- "Blue Shield to pay for autism therapy," by Wyatt Buchanan, San Francisco Chronicle, July 14, 2011
- "Anthem, Blue Shield to cover therapy for autistic children," by Duke Helfand and Alan Zarembo, Los Angeles Times, July 15, 2011
- "Insurers ordered to cover autism treatment," by KSEE-TV Fresno, July 15, 2011
- "Panel hears debate on coverage for autism treatment," by KGO-TV, San Francisco, July 13, 2011
Information on California autism insurance reform bills :
- Text of AB 171 amended May 2011 (Beall)
- Text of SB 166 amended April 2011 (Steinberg)
- July 2011: California Department of Insurance announces enforcement action against Blue Shield of California for failing to cover ABA (PDF)
- July 2011: Department of Managed Health Care announces settlement agreement with Blue Shield of California (PDF)
- September 2011: Senate, Assembly pass SB 946, requiring insurers to cover behavioral treatment for PDD or autism
- "Bill helping children with autism passes Assembly," by Sheila Kumar, Associated Press, September 9, 2011
- Parents, advocates and lawmakers rally urging Gov. Brown to sign SB 946, September 26, 2011 (VIDEO)
- "Families of children with autism would like help," KCRA-TV (NBC affiliate) September 26, 2011
- "My child's life matters," ABC7-News coverage of SB 946 rally, September 26, 2011
- Governor Brown's signing message approving SB 946.
- "Brown signs bill forcing health insurers to cover autism treatment," by Katherine Mieszkowski, The Bay Citizen, October 10, 2011
- "Autism insurance laws again shows insurers' need for therapy," by David Lazarus, Los Angeles Times, October 11, 2011
Video testimony from the California Senate Select Committee on Autism, July 13 2011:
