California Mandate: Action Alert

From The Autism Society:

Your Action Needed in California: Move Insurance Reform to a Vote

Please join the Autism Society in advocating for insurance coverage for individuals with autism in California. Call the following two members of the State Assembly and ask them to take AB 171 off the Assembly Appropriations Committee Suspense File so that it can move forward in the legislative process.

The calls need to be made by no later than Tuesday! If we don’t act soon, the suspension list will expire at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24.

Speaker John Perez: 916-319-2046

Assembly Member Felipe Fuentes: 916-319-2039

About AB 171:

• The cost estimates for AB 171 are high, according to the California Health Benefits Review Board. However, evidence from the 26 states that have already passed insurance reform measures shows that the actual costs experienced have been significantly lower than expected.
• This is the ONLY bill that will have significant savings for the General Fund because the state is currently paying for insurance services through the Regional Centers. The Regional Centers currently spend more than $300 million annually on behavioral services. If AB 171 is passed, the savings to the Regional Centers alone will be $100 million annually.
• This is a civil rights issue and California needs to stop discrimination against autism. Autism is the only medical condition for which the standard of care is denied by health insurance.