The NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is in the process of implementing Medicaid transformation in North Carolina. In this process, Medicaid recipients will have their health services transitioned from a fee-for-service model to managed care, which allows for physical and behavioral health services to be administered in one plan. Our state’s plan…
Public Policy Update
Federal Actions American Rescue Plan Act: Congress continues to debate the contents of the next round of Federal economic and pandemic related relief. The US House passed the American Relief Act on February 27 and the Senate Passed its version of the bill over the weekend of March 6-7. The legislation includes $1,400 checks for many Americans (including dependents and individuals with disabilities), an extension of unemployment…
Vaccine Priority Update
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced several updates regarding COVID-19 vaccine administration on March 2, 2021. Included in the updates are changes to the vaccination priority for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, including autism. We want to extend our sincere appreciation to Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen, Deputy Secretary Dave Richard,…
Vaccine Priority for People with Autism
Increasing evidence is showing that people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) are at much higher risk for contracting COVID-19, for being hospitalized with the illness, and an increased mortality rate from the illness. A Johns Hopkins analysis of insurance data indicates people with IDD are three times more likely to die when infected with…
Public Policy Advocacy: What’s Ahead and How to Help
As an organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum and their families, ASNC advocates for public policies that support people on the spectrum and monitors changes in our developmental disability and education systems. We work with policymakers at the General Assembly, state departments such as NC Department of Health and…
New Connections for the New Year
It’s a new year, and we are all looking forward to new opportunities. We are setting goals, making plans, and renewing our hopes. If one of your goals is to find a community of support for yourself and your family, we invite you to join your local Autism Society of North Carolina Chapter. These support…
Public Policy Update
Safe Interactions Act and Health-services Emergency Logistics Program (HELP) Act introduced in Congress U.S. Senator Bob Casey has launched an initiative to address racial justice and law enforcement interactions with people with disabilities, including autism. Two bills have been introduced – the Safe Interactions Act and the Human-services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) Act – which are intended to provide…