Autism Cares Act
So you want to know more about the Autism CARES Act.
Well you came to the right place. We’ll go over the basics of the law below.
What is the Autism CARES Act?
The Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support (CARES) Act is a federal law that was passed in 2014 and reauthorized in 2019 in order to create a comprehensive system for addressing the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families.
The law provides funding for research, early detection, and interventions for individuals with ASD, as well as support for families and professionals working with individuals with ASD.
The Autism CARES Act also promotes public awareness and understanding of autism spectrum disorder, and provides training and technical assistance for health care providers.
The law requires the Department of Health and Human Services to report on the progress of autism services.
The Autism CARES Act is a critical piece of legislation that helps to ensure that individuals with autism and their families have access to the resources they need, and that the necessary research is conducted to improve the lives of those impacted by ASD.
Who Sponsored the Autism CARES Act?
The Autism CARES Act was sponsored by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) . The bill was signed into law by President Donal Trump on September 30, 2019.
Spending for the Autism CARES Act
The Autism CARES Act of 2019 would authorize $1.8 billion in funding for programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) over five years.
Effects of the Autism CARES Act
So what happened since the Autism CARES Act went into effect? According to Autism Speaks the law has made scientific developments:
- Set a reliable diagnosis age of 18-24 months
- Established that timely interventions makes a lifetime of difference
- Identified co-morbidities
- Increased understanding of biological causes of autism
- Identified genes and possible medication targets
- Developed early career autism researchers