The California State Assembly passed Assembly Bill 2233 on Apr. 16, a measure authored by Assemblyman Tri Ta (R-Westminster) that aims to strengthen protections for individuals with autism by ensuring they can fully access the treatment hours prescribed by their doctors.
The legislation is designed to prevent disruptions in care for those with autism spectrum disorder by prohibiting health plans from restricting the use of already authorized behavioral health treatment hours within a six-month period. This change seeks to provide greater flexibility and support for families managing autism care.
Rick Rollens, legislative advocate for the Autism Business Association, said, “We are deeply grateful to Assemblymember Ta for championing AB 2233 and moving this crucial legislation forward. As a parent of a child with autism, I understand firsthand the daily challenges families face and why treatment flexibility is absolutely vital. By ensuring families can access all their authorized care and schedule necessary make-up sessions over a full six-month period, this bill delivers the real-world flexibility parents need to guarantee their children receive the uninterrupted support they deserve.”
Assemblyman Ta said, “Families should not have to worry about losing access to care that has already been approved by their provider. AB 2233 is a commonsense solution that ensures that authorized treatment is available to patients when they need it.”
Currently, some health plans set strict weekly limits on behavioral health treatments even if more hours have been approved overall. This practice can result in patients missing out on critical services due to illness or scheduling conflicts if appointments are missed during certain weeks. The new bill would ensure these hours remain available throughout the entire authorization period so patients do not lose access because of short-term issues.
“California has long been a leader in protection patients and expanding access to care,” Ta added. “This bill ensures individuals with autism are not left behind by insurance companies.”
AB 2233 will next be considered in the Senate.
