ACT Today! Applauds Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross for Recent Decison Which Improves the Lives of Children with Autism
Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross has decided to cover autism treatment in the state of California.

TARZANA, CA, July 27, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!), a national non-profit organization based in Tarzana, California, today commended two of the state's largest insurance companies, Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross on their decision to cover autism treatment. The insurance companies will provide coverage for a minimum of six months for applied behavior analysis (ABA), a form of treatment that has been empirically supported as one of the most effective treatments for autism. Coverage will remain in place as long as the services are deemed medically necessary.

"We give hundreds of grants for ABA therapy to families around the country yearly who cannot access or afford ABA therapy," says Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson, Executive Director of ACT Today!. "Now many families in California who have not been able to afford this gold standard treatment will be able to access it for their children. Our founder, Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, has achieved unprecedented success, as well as recovery, in children across the spectrum of autism in the use of ABA. We applaud Blue Cross of California and Anthem Blue Cross for their support."

In addition, Alspaugh-Jackson says the announcement by Dr. Coleen Boyle of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of the approval of a Medical Diagnostic Code for Wandering could not have come at a better time.

"Autism related wandering puts huge stress on the family, not only emotionally but financially as well,"says Alspaugh-Jackson. "We get dozens of applications each year from families that are unable to afford fences to keep children safe. The approval of a medical diagnostic code for wandering is the first step in the right direction in drawing attention to this important safety issue."

ACT Today! has funded $636, 932 dollars in grants since 2007. Approximately $130,000 for ABA therapy and $40,000 for fencing since 2007.

Press Release Contact Information:

Dapne Plump
ACT Today!
Director of Public Relations
19019 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana, CA
USA 91356
Voice: 661-478-6512
Website: Visit Our Website