---
date: "2024-03-17"
speaker: "Mike Wasmer"
organization: "COO, Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP)"
topic: "Developmental Disabilities Advocacy & Kate's Law"
blurb: "Mike Wasmer is an advocate for developmental disabilities nationally. He worked with parents of autism in Kansas to pass Kate's Law, compelling private insurance companies to pay for ABA."
---

# Mike Wasmer - Developmental Disabilities Advocacy & Kate's Law

**Date:** 2024-03-17  
**Organization:** COO, Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP)

> Mike Wasmer is an advocate for developmental disabilities nationally. He worked with parents of autism in Kansas to pass Kate's Law, compelling private insurance companies to pay for ABA.

## Notes from March 17th - Mike Wasmer - DD Advocacy

- **Autism coverage in the Kansas Legislature:**
  - 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.
- 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.
- 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)
  - 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 Questions to Ask a Potential ABA Clinic:
- What is the case load of a BCBA in their practice? (CASP stipulates 6-12 cases depending on severity; with BCaBA an additional 0-4)
- How are new BCBAs mentored? Are they observed by other BCBAs?
- What is the longest tenured BCBA? How long were they a BCBA prior to joining?
- What does monthly reporting to the parent look like?

### Other Resources:
- Genetic testing exists to determine the rate at which a person metabolizes ADHD drugs. [Supporting paper](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8957927/)
- [Autism Law Summit](https://autismlawsummit.com/) - Annual conference in October