FROM THE FOUNDATION

Redefining the Safety Net

Should California establish a Basic Health Program for certain low-income residents? CHCF's Marian Mulkey captures a recent policy conversation in a Health Affairs blog.

Accountable Care in Action

A new post on the Health Affairs blog details how CalPERS kept costs down in Sacramento through a "virtual" ACO with insurers and providers.

Career Opportunity: Senior Program Officer

This position will play a major role in furthering the goals and objectives of the foundation's Better Chronic Disease Care program.

Special Reports

Friday, December 16, 2011

Advocates, Business Groups Raising Concerns About State's New Autism Coverage Mandate

Many advocacy groups praised Gov. Jerry Brown (D) for signing a new law (SB 946) that requires private health plans to provide coverage for certain intensive autism therapies, such as Applied Behavior Analysis.

However, both advocates and business groups have raised concerns about certain aspects of the new law, such as its exemption for public health insurance plans and health insurance policies provided to state employees through CalPERS.

In a California Healthline Special Report by Deirdre Kennedy, experts discussed the benefits and shortcomings of the new autism coverage mandate.

The Special Report includes comments from:

  • Nicole Evans, vice president for communications at the California Association of Health Plans;
  • Henry Loubet, chief strategy officer of the insurance brokerage firm Keenan; and
  • Lorri Unumb, vice president of state government affairs at Autism Speaks (Kennedy, California Healthline, 12/16).

The complete transcript of this Special Report is available as a PDF.

Running Time: 4:44



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