Autism CARES Provisions

At Left Brain/Right Brain, Matt Carey summarizes provisions of S. 2449, the Autism CARES Act.

1) the title is changed from the previous “Combating Autism Act” Combating is noted in the new bill where the word is being stricken from the previous law.
2) the bill would extend the law until 2019.
3) the Interagency Autism Coordinating Commitee would stay as the advisory/coordinating vehicle for autism research
4) The bill designates that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services will chose someone within HHS to oversee autism research, including implementing the IACC’s Strategic Plan and insuring that research is not unnecessarily duplicative.
5) In a number of instances adults are specifically mentioned in the new bill. For example, “by inserting “for children and adults” after “reporting of State epidemiological data””. I.e. epidemiological data will in the future include adults.
6) The IACC will have between 1/3 and 1/2 members who are public representatives. I.e. a minority but a sizable minority will be public members.
7) If I read this correctly, IACC members will continue to be appointed by the Secretary of HHS. They will serve for 4 years, and can be renewed. If a member resigns, s/he will be replaced by someone chosen by the same method as the other appointees.
8) The IACC will continue to produce the Strategic Plan and a Summary of Advances in autism research.
9) In addition, the Secretary of HHS will be required to produce a report “Report on Young Adults and Transitioning Youth”
10) Funding levels–amounts which the bill authorizes to be appropriated–will increase from $161M/year to $190M/year.

Click here for his summary  of the House companion, HR 4631.