Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2413
Sponsor: Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-14]
Introduced: 2009-05-14 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Allied health services
Department of Health and Human Services
Government information and archives
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical education
Medical research
Neurological disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: 
Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to implement an Autism Care Center Program to provide grants and other assistance to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in providing comprehensive care to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and their families. 
 
Directs the Secretary to award grants for: (1) services to enable adults with autism spectrum disorders to be as independent as possible; and (2) multimedia campaigns to increase public education and awareness and reduce stigma concerning such disorders.
 
Establishes the Interdepartmental Autism Coordinating Committee to coordinate all federal efforts concerning autism spectrum disorders.
 
Repeals provisions establishing the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee to coordinate all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning autism spectrum disorders.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish: (1) the National Network for Autism Spectrum Disorders Research and Services to provide resources for, and facilitate communication between, autism spectrum disorder researchers and service providers; and (2) a National Data Repository for Autism Spectrum Disorders Research and Services to facilitate the development and rapid dissemination of research into best practices that improve care.
 
Requires the Secretary to award national training initiative supplemental grants to address the unmet needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
 
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act to require group health plans to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Applies such requirement to coverage offered in the individual market, under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and under Department of Defense (DOD) health benefit plans.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-06-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.
action_date: 2009-06-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
action_date: 2009-06-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2009-05-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Referred to House Armed Services
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Introduced in House