Center for Autism and Related Disorders Helps New York Families Struggling with Autism Insurance Woes with Free Seminar, September 26

Online, September 3, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), Inc., will host a seminar, "New York Insurance Funding for Autism," on Thursday, September 26, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at 6 N. Main Street, Suite 110, in Fairport. The free, two-hour seminar will teach parents of individuals with autism how to gain access to insurance coverage for autism treatment as regulations that implement New York's autism mandate take effect. This seminar comes at a time when many struggle to obtain coverage and others face interruption of coverage. Attendees must reserve seating no later than September 25 by contacting [email protected].

The New York Autism Insurance Mandate (A 8512) went into effect in November, 2012, as one of the most comprehensive autism insurance reforms in the country, requiring health plans to provide coverage of critical autism therapies for both children and adults. The law allows up to $45,000 a year in ABA treatment with no age limit. Shortly after going into effect, the New York Department of Financial Services published emergency regulations which required ABA therapy to be provided only by licensed Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA's). This left many families without access to care, as New York had no state licensure process. In July, 2013, the emergency regulations were revised to allow BCBA's to supervise treatment, thus opening the door to insurance coverage once again.

"We are excited that Governor Cuomo's administration dropped the regulatory requirement that stopped many families from gaining insurance coverage for ABA therapy," said CARD director of contracts, Bryce Miler. "However, we're learning just because treatment is available doesn't mean many families understand how to access it. The law can be confusing and many families find navigating the system very overwhelming. Our goal on September 26 is to provide direction to families who are in need of guidance, so that they may gain access to critical treatment which will allow their children to reach their highest potential."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every 88 children in America is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, making autism more prevalent than pediatric cancer, juvenile diabetes and childhood AIDS combined. Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that is marked by the presence of impaired social interaction and communication and a restricted repertoire of activities and interests.

Science has shown that early, intensive ABA-based intervention can help individuals with ASD by minimizing challenging behaviors and maximizing skill acquisition. CARD is considered one of the most effective autism treatment providers in the world, using state-of-the-art therapy to successfully treat individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With highly trained and experienced staff, a focus on evidence-based treatment and the use of technology, CARD delivers cost-effective treatment that leads to measurable results for each patient.

About Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD):
CARD treats individuals of all ages who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at its 26 treatment centers around the globe. 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 of applied behavior analysis (ABA), which is empirically proven to be the most effective method for treating individuals with ASD and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Surgeon General. CARD employs a dedicated team of over 1,000 individuals across the nation and internationally. For more information about the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, visit: http://www.centerforautism.com or call (855) 345-2273.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacey Price
Mobile: (310)740-5146
[email protected]