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 AS WELL AS CONGRESS. NCAAS SUBMITTED COMMENTS TO THE TRICARE PROGRAM IN APRIL 2021 ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE TRICARE OPERATIONS MANUAL. NCAAS ALSO MET WITH CONGRESSIONAL STAFF ON THE TOPIC AND SUBMITTED LETTERS TO THE COMMITTEES OF JURISDICTION IN JULY 2021. NCAAS MET WITH OFFICIALS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL) AND THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS) TO DISCUSS VIOLATIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH PARITY AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CHANGES IN THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, NCAAS ISSUED A STATEMENT ON VACCINE MANDATES AND RECOMMENDED POLICY CONSIDERATIONS TO ENSURE CONTINUED ACCESS TO SERVICES. NCAAS WORKED ADDRESS LABOR SHORTAGE ISSUES, SENDING LETTERS TO CONGRESS IN JULY 2021 ON LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS. NCAAS ALSO ADVOCATED FOR SUPPORT TO CAREGIVERS, SUBMITTING A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO CONGRESS IN MARCH 2022. 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.