National Coalition For Access To Autism Services

THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR ACCESS TO AUTISM SERVICES (NCAAS) SEEKS TO ASSURE AND ENHANCE CURRENT LEVELS OF HEALTH CARE INSURANCE COVERAGE OF AND ACCESS TO APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) AND RELATED AUTISM SERVICES AS A PART OF ANY PLAN TO REPEAL AND REPLACE THE "PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT" (P.L. 111-148, 111-152) OR TO OTHERWISE MODIFY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS STATUTE OR OTHER APPLICABLE STATUTES, NOTABLY MEDICAID AND THE STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (SCHIP). THE NCAAS WILL ALSO WORK TO ENSURE THAT ANY REGULATORY CHANGES IN HEALTHCARE POLICY UNDERTAKEN BY THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION DO NOT DISADVANTAGE THOSE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) AND IDEALLY WOULD WORK TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CARE FOR THIS POPULATION.

DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, NCAAS HELD WEEKLY CALLS WITH MEMBERS TO PROVIDE STATUS UPDATES ON FEDERAL ACTIVITIES AND NCAAS OBJECTIVES. NCAAS CONTINUED TO ENGAGE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) AND TRICARE ON THE AUTISM CARE DEMONSTRATION (ACD) AS WELL AS CONGRESS. NCAAS ALSO MET WITH CONGRESSIONAL STAFF ON THE TOPIC. NCAAS HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE'S CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED REVIEW OF THE ACD INCLUDING MEETING WITH STAFF AND ATTENDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS. NCAAS CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CONTINUED AVAILABILITY OF TELEHEALTH AFTER THE END OF THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, SUBMITTING COMMENTS TO THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES ON THE CY 2024 MEDICARE PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE. NCAAS CONTINUED TO ENGAGE ON MENTAL HEALTH PARITY ISSUES MEETING WITH CONGRESS TO DISCUSS CONTINUED VIOLATIONS AND THE IMPACT ON ABA THERAPY. NCAAS ALSO SUBMITTED COMMENTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S PROPOSED RULE MAKING CHANGES TO MENTAL HEALTH PARITY AND MET WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS CONTINUED PARITY VIOLATIONS EXPERIENCED BY FAMILIES WHEN ACCESSING ABA THERAPY. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, NCAAS ADVOCATED ON STATE ISSUES, SUBMITTING COMMENTS AND LETTERS IN VARIOUS STATES ON PROPOSED STATUTES AND REGULATIONS IN THE MEDICAID SPACE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY THREATEN ACCESS TO ABA SERVICES AND OTHER AUTISM THERAPY.