AB 272

Under current law, the Department of Health Services (DHS) provides autism

treatment services, under a Medical Assistance (MA) waiver of federal law, to

children who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and who would

not otherwise be eligible for MA benefits. This bill requires DHS to provide autism

treatment services under the MA autism benefit to all individuals who are eligible

for the services and prohibits DHS from using a waiting list to limit or delay the

provision of those services to eligible individuals. The bill also creates a sum

sufficient general purpose revenue appropriation to DHS for the autism benefit. In

addition, DHS is required to seek a waiver or an amendment to the existing waiver

if DHS determines that that is necessary for the provision of the services to all

individuals who are eligible and to authorize federal financial participation for MA

reimbursement for providing the services to all eligible individuals.

The bill also directs DHS to annually create and distribute information

regarding therapies that a parent of a child with autism may provide at home to

complement the child's treatment or individualized education program. DHS must

distribute the information to local educational agencies and physicians.