ORANGE COUNTY– Today, the California State Assembly passed Assembly Bill 2233, authored by Assemblyman Tri Ta (R-Westminster), which strengthens protections for individuals with autism by ensuring they can fully access the treatment hours prescribed by their doctors.
AB 2233 prohibits health plans from restricting the use of already authorized behavioral health treatment hours within a six-month period, helping prevent disruptions in care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
“We are deeply grateful to Assemblymember Ta for championing AB 2233 and moving this crucial legislation forward,” says Rick Rollens, legislative advocate for the Autism Business Association. “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.”
“Families should not have to worry about losing access to care that has already been approved by their provider,” said Assemblyman Ta. “AB 2233 is a commonsense solution that ensures that authorized treatment is available to patients when they need it.”
Under current practice, some health plans impose rigid weekly limits on treatment, even if care has been approved for a longer timeframe. This can result in patients losing access to critical services if they miss appointments due to illness, scheduling conflicts, or provider availability. AB 2233 ensures the authorized hours remain available throughout the full authorization period, allowing for consistent care for autism and other behavioral diagnoses.
“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 now heads to the Senate for consideration.