09 November 2009

The Affordable Health Care for America Act and Autism

HR 3962, otherwise known as the Affordable Health Care for America Act, was passed by the House of Representatives this week and is being reviewed by the Senate.

The act contains many components, but section 2527 is especially pertinent to professionals and parents of children with autism. The amendment, called the "National Training Initiatives on Autism Spectrum Disorders," will create multi-year grants that "provide individuals (including parents and health, allied health, vocational and educational professionals) with interdisciplinary training, continuing education, technical assistance, and information for the purpose of improving services rendered to children and adults with autism, and their families, to address unmet needs related to autism."

Individuals eligible to apply for these grants include university researchers and "service entities." You can read the text of this section of the bill at THOMAS (Library of Congress).

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