Autism Organizations Urge Secretary Sebelius To Protect Individuals With Autism By Clarifying That ABA Therapy Is A Benefit Under The Affordable Care Act

National autism organizations are urging citizens to sign a petition that seeks to ensure that ABA therapy is included as a benefit under the Affordable Care Act, rescinding the power from individual state lawmakers.

Tarzana, California (I-Newswire) December 6, 2012 - Autism Live, together with Center for Autism & Related Disorders (CARD), Autism Care and Treatment Today (ACT Today!), Skills, and Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), launched a petition today to urge Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius to specify that applied behavior analysis (ABA) is part of the essential health benefits in the Affordable Care Act.

Without further guidance from Secretary Sebelius, each state will decide whether ABA-based treatment for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is covered as a behavioral health treatment.

This petition seeks to protect the existing healthcare benefits of individuals with ASD and to enhance the benefits for individuals who live in a state that does not require insurance carriers to provide coverage for ABA-based treatment for ASD.

To sign the petition and/or to find out more, click the link below.

Click the link here to sign the petition:

http://www.change.org/petitions/secretary-of-health-and-human-services-kathleen-sebelius-protect-the-health-care-coverage-of-individuals-with-autism-2?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created

About Center for Autism and Related Disorders:
CARD treats individuals of all ages who are diagnosed with ASD, with 23 treatment centers around the globe and a staff of nearly 1,000. CARD was founded in 1990 by leading autism expert and clinical psychologist Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA-D. CARD treats individuals with ASD using the principles and procedures of ABA, which has been empirically proven to be the most effective method for treating individuals with ASD and is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Surgeon General.

Don't forget to watch CARD's new web videos: Mission Possible: Portraits of Hope & Ask Dr. Doreen.