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Update on health plans and behavior analysts in California.
If you are a BCBA or BCBA-D and also hold a professional license issued by the State of California, Anthem Blue Cross
in California wants to contact you in order to establish an ABA provider network. Wellpoint is attempting to comply
with the terms of a settlement reached with the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC). If you meet these criteria
and are interested in becoming a provider for Anthem Blue Cross, contact Michael Piellucci at 858-571-8251.
Unfortunately, these settlements do not permit BACB certified providers who do not also have a license in a medically
related field to independently provide services. This means that many of the most qualified clinicians are going to
be excluded from the networks
(see calaba.org/ppc/news-2011-07-Jul19.shtm).
The DMHC settlements underscore two things:
- the need for an insurance mandate that identifies BCBAs as qualified treatment providers. A bill recently introduced by Darrel Steinberg (SB 770)
does just that. The goal is to pass this bill by September 9th and send it to the Governor for his signature.
(Click here to see text of SB 770.)
- the need to continue to pursue licensure for behavior analysts in California. AB 1205, which identified BACB credentials as the
appropriate basis for licensure, is "dead" for this year. But the need to pass precisely this kind of bill has only increased.
Click here to donate in support of our Protect Our Practice Campaign.
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