Portantino’s Autism Treatment Bill Passes Assembly Human Services Committee

For Immediate Release: July 11, 2023

Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400

Portantino’s Autism Treatment Bill Passes Assembly Human Services Committee

Sacramento, California – Senate Bill 805, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank), seeks to address a serious lapse in the type of autism treatment covered by insurance. If signed by the Governor, it will expand care options and modernize workforce positions to provide better care options for parents. Today, it took a positive step forward by passing the Assembly Human Services Committee.

“Early intervention and individualized care is key for successful autism treatment outcomes and that’s why I am determined to expand insurance coverage of additional treatment options,” stated Senator Portantino. “The current system of care for individuals with autism includes essentially only one option. SB 805 provides parents choices to offer their children the best care available.”

In 2011, SB 946 directed insurance companies in California to provide behavioral health treatment in a very narrow way. SB 805 corrects this limitation by including qualified providers who use all evidence-based forms of behavioral health treatments.

SB 805 also expands the criteria for a qualified autism service professional to include a behavioral health professional and a psychology associate, an associate marriage and family therapist, an associate clinical social worker, or an associate professional clinical counselor. In addition, the bill would expand the criteria for a qualified autism service paraprofessional to include a behavioral health paraprofessional. These positions would then be available to provide any form of evidence-based BHT as long as they meet training and education qualifications.

"SB 805 will finally complete the promise made in 2011 that all evidence-based behavioral health treatments for autism will be available through insurance in California.” said Dr. Diane Cullinane, a developmental pediatrician from Pasadena. "Because of regulations, options for behavioral health treatment, especially developmental approaches have been blocked, and many families are not even aware that there are options. Insurance currently only allows one form of intervention but this one size fits all approach is out-dated. New research clearly shows that multiple approaches have proven effectiveness. Children with autism are all unique and the type of treatment should be matched to that child's particular needs. With the passage of SB 805, more types of behavioral health treatment will be available so that individuals with autism can finally receive the form of treatment that is best for them."

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