Families for Effective Autism Treatment

My Friends,

These are very difficult times for the Autism Community. The
budget crisis the State of California is embroiled in is causing
massive cutbacks in funding for the developmentally delayed
(Autism). The Autism Community is going to have to help
themselves to maintain services.
The FEAT organization has given a $15,000 grant to the Fresno
State Autism Center to expand its services. FEAT is giving Center
for Autism Disorders (CARD) a $15,000 grant to start up a social
program for high functioning persons. A third grant of $15,000 is
being made available to Autism Comprehensive Educational
Services (ACES) to make available services available to Autistic
adolescents that are not eligible for traditional services and
funding. Success at any or all of these facilities could trigger
additional
funding.

You have an opportunity to assist in these and other endeavors by
attending the following events. This News letter reaches over 6,300 subscribers. If only 5% show up for these events and participate the
Autism Community will be able to help itself and the children with
autism.

Autism Society of America is another parent support group
assisting families that have children with autism in the Central
Valley. www. autism-society.org

You can also help by attending the FEAT Board Meetings held on
the second Tuesday of each month, except for July and December.
Visit the FEAT web site at www.feat-fmc.org. or you can contact
FEAT at info@feat-fmc.org or call at (559) 232-9094.

The Autism Community can sit back and wait for the State to
discontinue services, or the Autism Community can get pro-active
and make things happen for our children with autism.

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responsibility of covering services for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).

Some states do the right thing and cover ASDs as a cost of doing business. Some states have even legislated the coverage of ASDs, making the coverage mandatory, and then there is California.

Cash strapped California can in no way pay for the expensive treatments that children and adults with ASDs require for any resemblance to independence and a life of self determination. California is not in the insurance business and should not be put in that role by greedy self serving private insurance giants that have as their business plan the purchase of a fleet of private jets and unconsionable bonus’s financed on the backs of the insured by withholding legitimate serves for the autism community. The year 2009 will go down as the beginning of the shift of responsibility from the State of California to the proper industry (Insurance) for serving the Autism Community. The following is one of many examples of those with the power to penetrated the firewall the insurance industry has effectively built around it’s bottom line to ensure the continued profitability of the industry. I am talking about the Legislature – Judicial – Media, putting a spotlight on the private insurance industry.

LOS ANGELES - California regulators may have violated their own statute meant to protect consumers by writing an "underground regulation" that excuses HMOs from covering costly autism treatments.

That was the finding by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge who last week decided to allow a consumer lawsuit to proceed against the state Department of Managed Health Care.

Showing signs he may invalidate the controversial policy on autism coverage, James C. Chalfant called the regulation "inconsistent" with other state laws and openly challenged their legal interpretation.

It was a big win for the plaintiffs, one of several groups suing health plans and the state over the right for autistic children to receive therapeutic treatments.

The policy at issue in this case, which was outlined in a March memo but not vetted by the public, lets health plans deny some expensive autism therapies without requiring independent reviews of the denials. Those reviews had overwhelmingly overruled health plans in favor of parents seeking treatment.

Chalfant also rejected the state's argument that the agency has sole discretion over implementing its regulations, which legal experts said was a telling sign the state is on shaky legal grounds.

"The department cannot adopt a regulation which exceeds its statutory authority," Chalfant said in the order, released Friday.

The ruling was also a boost to parents who believe HMOs must cover autism treatments under California 's mental health parity laws.

The Department of Managed Health Care, headed by Schwarzenegger appointee Cindy Ehnes, has not decided whether to appeal the judge's order, spokeswoman Lynne Randolph said. Randolph said the department's attorneys did legal analysis and its general counsel vetted the memo.

The department does not plan to withdraw the regulation or reverse its position, said Randolph, who noted the order is not yet a binding decision on the merits.

The department contends treatments, like speech therapy, are required by law, but the regimen of therapies for autistic children called applied behavior analysis, or ABA , are not. The department does not require ABA coverage unless a treating doctor pushes for treatments and they are provided by a licensed physician.

Randolph said the department stands firm on the decision that licensed providers must oversee ABA even though it does not require HMOs to have licensed providers, so few do.

Fighting to receive autism care from health plans has become a hot-button issue for patients in California . Three class actions, including a discrimination claim against Kaiser Permanente, were filed in the last year over autism coverage.

Autism coverage has become a sticking point because of the high cost. ABA , which aims to correct behavior and teach children how to function despite the disorder, can span several hours a day and cost up to $70,000 a year.

Health plans assert many of the therapies in question are education services rather than medical care.

As a result of last week's order, a lawsuit against the department by Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog can proceed to trial. A writ of mandate, the suit seeks an injunction against the state's dismissal of autism complaints. A hearing is set for Nov. 5.

Brietta Clark, a health law professor at Loyola Law School said the ruling was notable. "I think the judge was definitely disturbed by the department's behavior," she said.

Consumer Watchdog called it the first step to providing more scrutiny to autism coverage denials by HMOs.

"We had two goals, one was to point out how the letter was an underground regulation and we've basically won that," said Consumer Watchdog's founder, Harvey Rosenfeld. "Our goal now is to get the department to enforce the law as opposed to allowing HMOs to violate it."

When health plans disagreed with parents over the necessity of treatments, California for years used independent physicians to settle those cases with binding second opinions based on reviews of the medical files in each case. Until recently, parents had made gains in the type and amount of treatment provided for their autistic children by asking for intervention.

But in the March memo, the department signaled it would no longer send complaints of improper denials to independent physicians, meaning far fewer would be overturned. The controversial memo was signed not by any of the department's senior attorneys but by a non-lawyer deputy director.

Roth, a real estate appraiser in Oakland , pays $1,200 out of pocket for health coverage for his 4-year-old daughter, Alexa. But when he asked for ABA and occupational therapy, Kaiser denied the claim.

Last December, the Roths filed a complaint with the Department of Managed Health Care to have an independent medical review to resolve the dispute.

But this was after the department had stopped sending complaints like his for reviews.

The department told the family that in order to get the treatment, they need a doctor's note saying ABA therapy is medically necessary and can be given by a licensed provider.

He worries the delays will make it even harder to treat the disorder because early intervention is crucial.

"Every week or month or year that goes by without receiving any treatment is time that we can't make back," Roth said.

The 2nd Annual CCAC Golf Tournament
Benefitting the Central California Autism Center at Fresno State

General Information
Contact Name______________________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________________
Phone _____________________ Email __________________________________________
Players
Player entry fees cover green fee, cart fee, luncheon ticket, range balls, player participation
packages, and an entry for door prizes after the match. *Make checks payable to CCAC*
I would like to register _____ player(s). Enclosed is my entry fee of $95 per player.
I would like register a team of four players. Enclosed is my entry fee of $380.
I would like to sponsor a Tee. Enclosed is my fee of $100 per Tee Sponsorship.
Player Names:
1.)____________________________ 2.)____________________________
3.)____________________________ 4.)____________________________
Average Score: __________
Tee Sponsorship:
Please print clearly the company or group name you would like printed on the tee below:
_____________________________________________
Mail completed entry form and payment to: Jeanne Lee
Central California Autism Center at Fresno State
2576 E. San Ramon Ave. MS /ST11
Fresno, CA 93740
Phone: (559) 278-6773, Email: abaatcsuf@hotmail.com

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Mark Adams Ph.D. BCBA is once again on the cutting edge of Autism Services in the Central Valley (Fresno).

Mark is in the process of developing a small 5 acre plot just West of Table Mountain, on Friant Road. His vision is to set up a small petting zoo along side a vocational training area that includes animals and farming. This endeavor is open to all ASDs, any gender, any age. Mark hopes to be able to improve the quality of life and make independence a goal of all children and adults on the Autism Spectrum Disorder.(ASD).

There are a few area businesses supporting his efforts but Mark needs a lot more community involvement to pull this off. Mark needs Materials, Volunteerism, and most of all financial backing. The last need is of course to make his project available to as many children and adults as he can. Mark has been able to get Vendorized at the Central Valley Regional Center on a limited basis.

An Educational & enjoyable Experience Designed with
special considerations for the Autism Community

Agriculture and Horticulture including
Varieties of Fruits, Vegetables, Cheeses,
and Preservatives available seasonally

provides a venue for...
Social Opportunities
Community Outreach
Families to be together
Vocational Skills
Supported Employment Opportunities

SEASONAL EVENTS throughout the year including...

CAMPING
MOVIE NIGHTS
BREAKFASTS AND DINNER NOGHTS
EASTER EGG HUNT
SUMMER RECREATION
HOLLOWEEN/THANKSGIVING PUMPKIN PATCH

Special Occasions...

Meetings
Group/Club Events
Fund Raisers

Mark can be reached at (559)313-3309
madams992@gmail.com

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Friday, April 23rd, 2010
7:05pm
The Fresno Grizzlies and the Central Valley Autism
Community team up to “Strike Out Autism” benefiting
the Central California Autism Center at " Fresno State"

SINGLE $10
Field Level Reserved Ticket
Grizzlies will donate $4 per ticket to
the Central California Autism Center

GRAND SLAM $50
EXCLUSIVE 600 Club Ticket
Grizzlles will donate $24 per ticket to
the Central California Autism Center

Name: __________________________________________ Phone #: (____)_________________________________
Address: ___________________ City: ____________ Zip: ____________ Email:_______________________________
Number of Seats:
Single ($10): ______ Grand Slam ($50): ______
Method of Payment:
(circle one) Check Visa MC Discover Amex
Card#:_____________________________ Exp:_______
Signature:______________________________________

Make checks payable to: Fresno Grizzlies Baseball Club
Mail orders to 1800 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA 93721 or fax order to (559) 264-0795.
*All orders will be processed and tickets will be available for pick up anytime after
MONDAY, APRIL 19th at the Will Call Window at the Chukchansi Park Box Office.

Friday, April 23rd, 2010
7:05pm
The Fresno Grizzlies and the Central Valley Autism
Community team up to “Strike Out Autism” benefiting
the Central California Autism Center at Fresno State
Ticket Packages
EXCLUSIVE 600 Club Ticket
Grizzlies will donate $24 per ticket to
the Central California Autism Center
TOTAL = $______
/person
/person

Contact Information:
Fresno State - Jeanne Lee (559) 278-6773 or abaatcsuf@hotmail.com
Fresno Grizzlies - Danielle Witt (559) 320-2547 or dwitt@fresnogrizzlies.com

Purchasing Options:
Mail or Fax order form below
STRIKE OUT AUTISM
* Come at 6:00pm to join the Autism Awareness on-field parade!*

* Every child will receive a complimentary Fun Zone Ticket!*

* Stay after the game for the fireworks extravaganza*
Deadline to purchase tickets is April 12th

Date: Friday, April 23, 2010
Place: Fresno Pacific University

“Early Intervention Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders”

Presented by Renown Expert:

Sally Rogers, M.D., Ph.D., UC Davis Mind Institute

Afternoon: Breakout Sessions on Current Topics in Autism - TBD

Cost: $50.00 for Professionals [Lunch provided for all.]
$25.00 for Parents

Mark Your Calendar Now!

You won’t want to miss this one!

FAMILIES FOR EFFECTIVE AUTISM TREATMENT

FRESNO/MADERA COUNTY

April 3rd, 2010

April is Autism Awareness Month

Brought to you by Sierra Autism Services

WHEN

Saturday, April 3rd

WHERE

First “LEFT” AFTER THE FRESNO ENTRANCE TO MILLERTON