Center for Autism and Related Disorders Offers Free California Autism Insurance Seminars to Help Parents Gain Access to Funding

Los Angeles, CA, July 07, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), the world’s largest provider of state-of-the-art early intensive behavioral intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders, will host a series of seminars, “California Insurance Funding for Autism Treatment,” to educate families and other caregivers about the California Autism Insurance Mandate (SB 946). As of July 1st, the law requires most insurance providers to cover behavioral health treatment, including applied behavior analysis (ABA), for individuals on the spectrum. The free, two-hour seminars will be held from July 28 - August 25, 2012 at CARD centers in Fresno, the East Bay, Garden Grove, Sacramento, San Diego, and Tarzana.

“With 1 in every 88 children in America diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, it is important for parents to know their insurance options and learn how to navigate through the insurance process,” says CARD Founder and Chief Executive Officer Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA-D. “This new law means that parents and other caregivers will no longer have to worry about whether they can afford treatment that’s been proven to recover individuals on the spectrum,” says Dr. Granpeesheh. In August, 2009, CARD researchers published "Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Records in 38 Cases of Recovery from Autism” in the Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, showing that results of treating autism spectrum disorders can include recovery.

CARD’s series of seminars will provide the most effective ways to access coverage, including:

- Services that insurance companies will and will not cover
- Types of plans and rules regarding coverage
- Effective strategies to maximize your benefits
- How to understand the complexities of different insurance carriers
- Which plans will have to comply with SB 946
- What to know during open enrollment
- How the mandate affects other types of funding (e.g., regional center)

Seminars will be held in the following locations:

Saturday, July 28
10 am to 2 pm
4928 E. Clinton Way, Ste. 105
Fresno, CA 93727

Friday, August 3
6 pm to 8 pm
2945 Ramco Street, Ste. 160
Sacramento, CA 95691

Saturday, August 4
10 am to 12 pm
3738 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Ste. 200
Lafayette, CA 94549

Saturday, August 11
10 am to 12pm
12399 Lewis Street, Ste. 202
Garden Grove, CA 92840

Saturday, August 18
10 am to 12 pm
19019 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 300
Tarzana, CA 91356

Saturday, August 25
10 am to 12 pm
7297 Ronson Rd., Ste. H
San Diego, CA 92111

Mandatory registration is required to attend each seminar.

To register, visit http://centerforautism.com/insurance-seminar.aspx or contact D.Plump@centerforautism.com.

About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD):
CARD treats individuals of all ages with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) around the globe, with 23 treatment centers and a staff of nearly 1,000. CARD was founded in 1990 by leading autism expert and clinical psychologist Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA-D. CARD treats autism using the principles and procedures of applied behavior analysis (ABA), which has been empirically proven to be the most effective method for treating individuals with autism and is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Surgeon General. For more information about the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, visit: www.centerforautism.com or call (855) 345-2273.