# Therapy & Clinical Services — ABA Advocacy & Kate's Law

- **Autism coverage in the Kansas Legislature:** — *[Mike Wasmer, Mar 2024](/sessions/20240317_Mike_Wasmer_DD_Advocacy/notes.md)*
    - The Autism waiver was the first time insurance or the state paid for autism treatment
    - The first win was a bill to start a taskforce to study the coverage of autism
    - 2 years later a bill passed covering autism treatments for state employees
    - In the KS legislature there is a law that all changes to health insurance are required to be piloted on state employees
    - 1 year later, after the legislature determined that coverage was cost effective, the program was extended to other state plans
    - Mike joined Autism Speaks as the Director of Governmental Affairs. He worked with other state groups to pass legislation in every other state.
    - In 2019 Tennessee was the last state to sign into law coverage for autism treatment

- Mike then moved with Lori Unumb to the [Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP)](https://www.casproviders.org/) where he is now the COO. — *[Mike Wasmer, Mar 2024](/sessions/20240317_Mike_Wasmer_DD_Advocacy/notes.md)*

- Now that Autism therapy is funded by insurance, there is a lack of supply for a demand that soared overnight. The industry struggles to meet this demand and the quality of care has suffered. — *[Mike Wasmer, Mar 2024](/sessions/20240317_Mike_Wasmer_DD_Advocacy/notes.md)*

- CASP sets the standards for the generally acceptable level of care. See: [Provider Guidelines](https://assets-002.noviams.com/novi-file-uploads/casp/pdfs-and-documents/ASD_Guidelines/ABA-ASD-Practice-Guidelines.pdf) — *[Mike Wasmer, Mar 2024](/sessions/20240317_Mike_Wasmer_DD_Advocacy/notes.md)*
    - CASP is mentioned by name in several state parity laws
    - CASP has also created [Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ)](https://autismcommission.org/) for independent provider accreditation.

- Key milestones: — *[Nichole Sagar, Nov 2023](/sessions/20231119_Nichole_Sagar_ABA/notes.md)*
    - 2013 - [DSM-5 Identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4883454/)
    - 2014 - [Mental Health Parity Act](https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/private-health-insurance/mental-health-parity-addiction-equity) / [Kansas Parity Laws](https://www.paritytrack.org/reports/kansas/statutes/)
    - 2014 - [House Bill 2744](https://www.kslegislature.org/li_2014/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2744_enrolled.pdf) requiring fully funded insurance plans cover ABA
    - 2014 - [BACB licensure recognized by Kansas](https://kslegislature.org/li_2014/b2013_14/statute/065_000_0000_chapter/065_075_0000_article/065_075_0003_section/065_075_0003_k/)
    - 2019 - [AMA published billing codes for ABA](https://www.ababillingcodes.com/about/history-2/)

- [Autism Law Summit](https://autismlawsummit.com/) - Annual conference in October — *[Mike Wasmer, Mar 2024](/sessions/20240317_Mike_Wasmer_DD_Advocacy/notes.md)*

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