December 2024 Advocacy Update:
The DIR/Floortime Coalition of California is working with the Department of Developmental Services and with providers of DIRFloortime to help ensure a smooth implementation of SB 805 in July 2026. SB 805 requires health plans to cover other evidence-based approaches to behavioral health treatment for autism. The Coalition has met with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and provided proposals regarding the regulations DDS must develop for provider qualifications as well as rates of reimbursement. We hope to continue to plan with DDS for a smooth rollout to prevent gaps in service for any family.
One key aspect of a smooth rollout is for health plans to have in place formal CPT service codes for providers billing other evidence-based Behavioral Health Treatment services. The AMA creates CPT billing codes in a careful and lengthy process with input from many leaders and stakeholders. The DIR/Floortime Coalition recommends the AMA provide new CPT codes versus modifying ABA codes. We are cooperating with other professional groups also invested new codes for developmental approaches to autism services. Already, the California Psychological Association is working to support this project.
In the spring of 2024, Diane Cullinane, M.D. and Andrea Davis, Ph.D. of the DIR Coalition provided expert testimony at a Fair Hearing at Central Valley Regional Center brought by parents of two children. The judge determined DIRFloortime is an established approach to autism services and ordered the Regional Center to pay for DIR services for the children. There are several Regional Centers which have been referring children and funding DIR-based services for over 27 years and others which have refused. We were thrilled with this Fair Hearing result to establish precedent for families in all 21 Regional Centers.
Stay tuned for further updates!
The DIR/Floortime Coalition of California is working with the Department of Developmental Services and with providers of DIRFloortime to help ensure a smooth implementation of SB 805 in July 2026. SB 805 requires health plans to cover other evidence-based approaches to behavioral health treatment for autism. The Coalition has met with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and provided proposals regarding the regulations DDS must develop for provider qualifications as well as rates of reimbursement. We hope to continue to plan with DDS for a smooth rollout to prevent gaps in service for any family.
One key aspect of a smooth rollout is for health plans to have in place formal CPT service codes for providers billing other evidence-based Behavioral Health Treatment services. The AMA creates CPT billing codes in a careful and lengthy process with input from many leaders and stakeholders. The DIR/Floortime Coalition recommends the AMA provide new CPT codes versus modifying ABA codes. We are cooperating with other professional groups also invested new codes for developmental approaches to autism services. Already, the California Psychological Association is working to support this project.
In the spring of 2024, Diane Cullinane, M.D. and Andrea Davis, Ph.D. of the DIR Coalition provided expert testimony at a Fair Hearing at Central Valley Regional Center brought by parents of two children. The judge determined DIRFloortime is an established approach to autism services and ordered the Regional Center to pay for DIR services for the children. There are several Regional Centers which have been referring children and funding DIR-based services for over 27 years and others which have refused. We were thrilled with this Fair Hearing result to establish precedent for families in all 21 Regional Centers.
Stay tuned for further updates!
Senator Anthony Portantino holds the signed SB 805 with Coalition leaders, Drs Cullinane and Davis
2024 Press Release
For six years, Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank) has championed legislation that allows for greater insurance coverage for children with autism. After years of effort, SB 805 has been signed into law by Governor Newsom. Now California will be the first state that can offer a full range of “behavioral health treatments” for autism through medical insurance in California. The bill was sponsored by the DIRFloortime Coalition of California, with leadership from Dr. Andrea Davis, psychologist in Pasadena, Dr. Diane Cullinane, pediatrician in South Pasadena, and Dr. Josh Feder, psychiatrist in Solana Beach. This team has worked together to fight for legislation for over 12 years. This is the 4th bill that Senator Portantino has authored in this effort, and the first to be signed into law. Dr. Cullinane stated, “We are so pleased to finally have legislation that will allow funding for a full range of evidence-based support services for autistic children and youth. The CDC-reported incidence of autism in California is a startling 1:22 children. So, we know many families will benefit from this legislation.” Dr. Davis adds, “We will continue to work together as the legislation moves through the regulatory process. The deadline for implementation is July 2026, which seems far away, but at last we are moving towards real change. We hope this will pave the way for other states to follow.” Dr. Feder comments, “We are so grateful for the dedication of Sen. Portantino, his staff, our whole coalition of parents and professionals, and the many large groups that supported this effort.” The Senator was at work in his Glendale district office and happily celebrated the important accomplishment by awarding the bill sponsors with a copy of the chaptered bill signed personally by the Governor.
October 2023 - We did it!!!!
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 805!!!!
Governor Gavin Newsom signed our bill SB 805 - Portantino, which supports insurance funding for all evidence-based approaches to support autistic youth and their families.
After many years of advocacy to change the system, which only allowed for one form of intervention to be covered by insurance, Californians will finally have a choice, including developmental relationship-based approaches which have generally only been available to families who could afford to pay privately.
SB 805 directs DDS to develop new regulations to define qualifications for professionals and paraprofessionals to provide evidence-based behavioral health services. Over the years, more research has supported developmental approaches as supports, and organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (2020) and the American Medical Association (2023) have written policies that support a range of approaches.
SB 805 was sponsored by the DIR/Floortime Coalition of California and garnered widespread support.
California will now join Minnesota, New Jersey, and Illinois as states that offer a choice in autism programs.
More details here.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 805!!!!
Governor Gavin Newsom signed our bill SB 805 - Portantino, which supports insurance funding for all evidence-based approaches to support autistic youth and their families.
After many years of advocacy to change the system, which only allowed for one form of intervention to be covered by insurance, Californians will finally have a choice, including developmental relationship-based approaches which have generally only been available to families who could afford to pay privately.
SB 805 directs DDS to develop new regulations to define qualifications for professionals and paraprofessionals to provide evidence-based behavioral health services. Over the years, more research has supported developmental approaches as supports, and organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (2020) and the American Medical Association (2023) have written policies that support a range of approaches.
SB 805 was sponsored by the DIR/Floortime Coalition of California and garnered widespread support.
California will now join Minnesota, New Jersey, and Illinois as states that offer a choice in autism programs.
More details here.
July 2023 Update
SB 805 Passed Assembly Health &
Assembly Human Services Committees !!
The Coalition sent powerful parent Lead Witnesses - thanks to travel funding by ICDL.com
SB 805 Passed Assembly Health &
Assembly Human Services Committees !!
The Coalition sent powerful parent Lead Witnesses - thanks to travel funding by ICDL.com
June 2023 Update
SB 805 Passed the Senate 40-0 !!
SB 805 Passed the Senate 40-0 !!
April 2023 Update
We have sponsored a NEW autism treatment bill in the legislature
SB 805 - Portantino !!
This bill provides an elegant fix for families seeking insurance coverage for an evidence-based treatment approach other than ABA. The bill would follow prior precedent to have DDS create separate training/education requirements for the Qualified Autism Service professionals and paraprofessionals who practice an evidence-based developmental approach to behavioral health treatment such as DIR, PLAY Project, PACT, ESDM, Project Impact, etc.
To fit with the existing insurance mandate law, SB 946, the new categories would be called Behavioral Health Professionals and Behavioral Health Paraprofessionals. These staff members would still be supervised and employed by a state-licensed medical provider who meets the criteria to be a Qualified Autism Service Provider. This means that if the doctor and the parents choose a developmental approach for a patient, their autism treatment staff would need to be educated and trained in that developmental approach (not an ABA approach).
You can raise your voice in support by asking an organization you know to write a letter of support for SB 805 on organizational letterhead following this draft format:
SB 805 Organizational Letter Template
Please then upload your letter to Senator Portantino ASAP before approaching deadlines for committee hearings via the
Senate Advocacy Portal
Read the SB 805 Fact Sheet here
See the actual bill here
Check Out our Floortime YouTube Channel and Subscribe here
Parents like Gina Peters and Kristin Schinella |
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who travel to Sacramento to speak out to the legislature about their child's success with DIR/Floortime
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professionals like tiffany smith |
parents like caitlin welsh |
advocates like jim lantry |
who could provide more evidence-based treatment to families and train other professionals if we could provide the support to help her complete her DIR certification
Professionals like Ziba Nassab AND Tessa Graham
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who develop agencies providing a variety of services based in DIR/Floortime principles
who are educating and petitioning their Kaiser and other health plans to meet their children's urgent needs for intervention tailored to their individual needs
Professionals like Ben Zequeira-Russell and Kristi Gose
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who are extending their agencies into underserved counties in the state where no other DIR/Floortime services exist
Researchers like Josh Feder
who are expanding the evidence base for developmental treatment approaches
who keep protecting our freedom to practice evidence-based approaches by carrying the message of parent and prescriber choice forward to new legislators, public agencies, and insurance companies
Healthcare providers like Diane Cullinane and Andrea Davis
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who train new professionals and expand the types of DIR-based programs and services for kids and young adults in their community
AND...
Countless families who have lost funding or have never been offered funding for DIR/Floortime
NEWS & UPDATES
FOR PARENTS
FOR PROFESSIONALS
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OUR MISSION: We are the DIR/Floortime Coalition of California --- parents, families, and professionals promoting parent and family choice in treatments. We are spreading the word about evidence-supported developmental approaches to intervention such as DIR/Floortime to help autistic people across the lifespan along with those with other developmental challenges. We are committed to expanding awareness, access to, and use of developmental approaches through education, fundraising, research, networking, and policy advocacy. |
Mailing Address:
913 E Walnut Street
Pasadena, California 91106
913 E Walnut Street
Pasadena, California 91106
