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  • September 9, 2016 at 8:22 am #75
    FEAT BC Admin
    Keymaster

    In this topic area, discussion is about the fight to secure Government funding for your A.B.A. treatment program. It is also the place to talk about your thoughts and ideas about how to establish new Government programs specifically designed for autism treatment.

    This is the place to hear input from parents who have fought for funding and won, as well as those who have fought for funding and would like to share their horror stories. There is a tendency to not share success stories once funding is secured. Please fight that tendency. By sharing our experience, we all become stronger.

     

    —-By FEAT BC (Freeman) on Saturday, January 3, 1998 – 03:16 pm:

    -Hi everyone!

    These are some things to think about in your dealings with government to help you to obtain support for your child’s Autism Treatment Program. These are my personal opinions and do not represent those of FEAT of BC or any other organization.

    Many of these observations are based on my personal experiences (and I believe it poetic justice to help every parent avoid being systematically abused by their social worker the way I was).

    Good luck to everyone! (Let’s all pull back the curtain on the Wizard of OZ).

    Sabrina

     

    How To Fight for Funding for Autism Treatment and Appropriate School Placement

    1. Establish a Paper Trail

    Always take notes, documenting major points of all conversations with government and school officials.

    This includes casual, in person conversations with social workers as well as ALL telephone conversations. All key points of discussion must be written down in your notes including the date and time of the discussion. This includes what was agreed upon, as well as what was not agreed upon.

    Then the notes should be used to write a letter recapping the substance and content of the conversation. This letter must then be mailed or faxed to the person with whom you had the conversation. In addition, a copy must be kept in your file (see section on the icci game).

    Why?

    It is important to formalize the interaction between you and Government officials. In addition, everyone is put on notice that they must closely adhere to their responsibilities, regulations and laws., Furthermore, they must then consider the paper trail you have created. This lets everyone know that the interaction can become public and that any abuses of power and authority can be formally appealed and/or publicized.

    In other words, they canit use discretion unfairly under the cloak of secrecy.

    2. Submit all Requests in Writing

    All your requests for your child must be submitted formally in writing with a copy included in your file and a copy, if necessary, sent to their immediate superiors.

    3. Set Deadlines for Action

    All formal requests for action must have a reasonable deadline set for that action. If no action or response is received by the deadline you have set (two weeks for example), then you will interpret the lack of response as a formal declination (a formal NO) of your requests.

    Why Set Deadlines?

    When bureaucrats do not want to do something, they will stall by ignoring you and your request. (As an aside, in the study of the bureaucracy, this is known as ithe power to do nothingi). They can string you along for years. When you have determined that the person you are interacting with is not inclined to help you or is not dealing in good faith, then you must take the initiative and formally label his/her behavior as obstructionist and de facto as a declination (a NO to your requests). This allows you to move to the next level of authority on your timetable to present your case. This takes the power to do nothing away from the bureaucrat with whom you are dealing. Simple stated, a bureaucrat who stalls and does nothing becomes irrelevant (use your invisible spray) and you move on to the next level of authority.

    How to icci?

    A cc. is a copy of your letter sent to someone other than the person you are writing. You put the cc. at the bottom left-hand corner of your letter followed by 2 spaces and the name of the person or people to whom you want to send a copy of the letter.

    Who to icci to?

    Sometimes it is best not to icci at all, especially in the early stages of the relationship (for example, your first letter to a social worker requesting assistance). This gives them the opportunity to do the right thing and does not present you as an overly combative person. When you start to run into problems, it is a good idea to send the icci to the 2 immediate superiors of the person you are having problems with. We do not recommend icciing all the way up the chain of command, since you want to give them a chance to solve the problem at the local level.

    Why send a icci copy?

    The reason for playing the icci game is that you want your interactions with the official to be known to his superior and possibly to other organizations so that 1) their action or inaction becomes a matter of record and 2) the individual knows he is being monitored. This helps minimize abuses of power and authority and helps encourage the official to meet their obligations and do the right thing.

    What is the sequence of letters?

    Find out the chain of command of the particular bureaucracy you are battling.

    TOP

    Minister
    Deputy Minister
    Children’s Ministry’s local region chain of command, all the way down to the District Supervisor
    and Social Worker
    Contacts can be found at the government directory: http://www.dir.gov.bc.ca/

    BOTTOM

    Start at the bottom and climb. At the Regional Operating Officer (ROO) level (once you have been declined) you have to decide whether to jump up to the top, threaten and then go to the media, or both. A word of wisdom: DO NOT BLUFF. If you are not willing to go all the way, they will ‘smell’ this. You must be prepared to take it right up to the Minister and beyond.

    Documentation from Experts:

    In your arsenal to fight for your child, it is wise to get his/her pediatrician and/or psychiatrist to write a letter on your childis behalf. In addition, any other experts who know your child and are sympathetic to what you are trying to do should become involved.

    When to hire a lawyer?

    If money is not an issue, you can hire a lawyer when you get to the area manager level. Make sure that you have a paper trail so the lawyer has something to work with. Also, have the lawyer give F.E.A.T. of B.C. a call, and we will send him/her information that will help.

    If money is an issue (as it is for most of us running autism treatment programs), you might want to hire a lawyer once you have been turned down by the Minister.

    How to hire a lawyer?

    The type of lawyer needed is a litigator, or trial lawyer. S/he does not need to be an expert in autism, or special needs; s/he needs to be experienced in suing governments, and enjoys being in court. Word of mouth is a good way to find a lawyer.

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  • August 22, 2019 at 9:27 am #23593
    Andrew Kavchak
    Participant

    Hi Folks,

    Well, after reflecting on the Minister of Health’s false and misleading propaganda of yesterday I decided to write to her, the PM and a few other notables in an effort to get her and her staff to realize that we’re not fooled.  I hope the media catches on to this.  But for that to happen the autism community around here will need to speak up about this.

    Date: 2019-08-21 10:55 PM

    To: Info@hc-sc.gc.ca, medicare_hc@hc-sc.gc.ca, hcminister.ministresc@canada.<wbr />ca, Ginette.PetitpasTaylor@parl.<wbr />gc.ca, Pam.Damoff@parl.gc.ca, simon.kennedy@canada.ca, simon.kennedy@hc-sc.gc.ca

    Subject: Autism and the False Response to a Petition
    Dear Federal Minister of Health,

    I am writing to you as a parent of a child with autism who is concerned about the incorrect statements of yours in response to a petition that was posted on the Parliament website today.  In your response you provide an outline of your reasoning as to why autism treatment (Applied Behaviour Analysis or “ABA”) is not covered by Medicare and could not be in the future.  Unfortunately, the facts that you state are incorrect.  Regrettably, your argument is invalid. You state that ABA treatment is not offered by hospitals or physicians. In fact, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), which is just a 15 minute car ride from your offices, has been delivering the treatment for the past twenty years.  Unfortunately, they do not do so pursuant any administration by the Ministry of Health and paid for by Medicare, but as a “regional service provider” on contract to the Ministry of Community and Social Services. As such, there is a deceptive game of “musical ministries” which is designed to ensure that Canadians with autism cannot obtain treatment with their health cards. The autism community urges you to revisit this matter and become a champion for Medicare and the treatment of autism.
    The petition in question was tabled on May 17 and your response was tabled today (August 21) at the following site:
    The part that you wrote which I consider most regrettable comes at the end of your response:
    “The Canada Health Act (CHA) requires that medically necessary hospital and physician services be covered by provincial and territorial health care insurance plans. The Act does not specify diseases or conditions. Any service provided by a physician or in a hospital that is considered to be medically necessary in the treatment of a disease or condition should be covered by the provincial and territorial health care insurance plans. Other health care services provided outside hospitals and by non-physicians, such as Applied Behaviour Analysis and supports for individuals with ASD, are outside the scope of the CHA. For these services, it is up to the provincial and territorial governments to determine whether to cover them, and if so, how, either under their health care plans or under separately funded programs. The federal government continues to support this approach, which is respectful of provincial and territorial jurisdiction in health. There are no plans to amend the CHA to include treatment of specific diseases or conditions.”
    Your statement that ABA is provided “outside hospitals” is simply not true.  The facts that you base your argument on are not correct.  Why do you insist on continuing to ignore reality and truth and propagate this myth that has been used as an excuse for two decades to deny families like mine the right to obtain medically necessary healthcare services for my autistic son under Medicare (OHIP in Ontario)?
    The Ontario government inherited a terrible Ontario Autism Program from the previous government with unconscionably long waiting lists.  It promptly proceeded to change the program in a way that has been largely perceived as making it worse.  As a result parents and families in Ontario have been forced into unprecedented protests and advocacy, pleading for the government to be more responsible.  However, the fundamental problem at the core of all these “access to treatment” disastrous situations is that in practically all of the provinces ABA treatment for autism is not covered by Medicare.
    The medical and scientific community have known since the 1980s that ABA is the only evidence-based treatment for autism, and as such, constitutes the core healthcare need of any child diagnosed with autism (until a better treatment or a cure is discovered).  Yet, most provinces, like Ontario, have their autism treatment programs delivered by ministries of “social services” which have neither the expertise nor the resources” to do a proper job.  In Ontario, every time there is a new Minister and new Government, they constantly tinker with the programs, either cutting budgets or introducing age cut-offs, etc.  There is no stability or consistency in the programs and they don’t benefit from the federal Canada Health Transfer or any payments from the federal government under any “Health Accords”.
    The recent Ontario government changes to the funding model involved transferring funds from the regional service providers to the families so they could pay directly in the private sector market. As a result, CHEO actually posted their fees that they now charge parents for their services.  They cumulatively work out to over $150,000 a year!!!  Please see the media articles about it at the following links.
    Please also note that autism has been a disorder recognized for many years is the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association. The DSM manual is the bible for the medical community.  Doctors routinely prescribe psychological services as part of the treatment of the various disorders.  Why should prescriptions for ABA treatment for autism not be covered by Medicare? Why should certified behaviour analysts not be recognized as professionals within the healthcare system?
    This lack of Medicare coverage is a real serious issue for our community. Please do not look for excuses and reasons to perpetuate this discrimination in Canada’s healthcare system.  While the petition called for the amendment of the CHA, there are other ways to rectify this situation without resorting to legislative amendments.  What we need is a Minister with the vision and energy and determination that Minister Monique Begin displayed in the 1980s when she plugged the holes in Medicare and put it on a stronger foundation by passing the CHA.  What we would like you to do is the same thing that you did in the development of your National Dementia Strategy, and it does not require a Bill.  Would you please consider calling a meeting with your provincial counterparts, and negotiate, using all the incentives that the federal government has (and you have many, most notably the giving or withholding of tax dollars), the inclusion of ABA autism treatment under Medicare coverage pursuant to national service standards. Our community needs autism treatment to be itself treated with the appropriate respect, professionalism and stability that the Department of Health, healthcare bureaucrats and Medicare can provide, rather than the constant upheavals we’ve been subjected to over the years by the ministry of social services in Ontario where it is treated like a ping pong ball.
    Many people in our community are struggling in unimaginable ways on a daily basis and the provincial governments are letting us down across the board in all the lifespan issues.  My own son is severely autistic and non-verbal.  He will need care 24/7 for the rest of his life.  He recently turned 18 and we placed him on a waiting list for placement in a group home here in Ottawa.  We were told that the average waiting time in this capital city is 10 years!  Many people are calling for the federal government to develop a National Autism Strategy.  I support this. However, the core and principal component of such a strategy must be the undertaking to get Medicare coverage for ABA autism treatment.   Anything else will simply be perpetuating a catastrophic situation which is simply unconscionable discrimination.  Please help our community.
    I have written a number of op-eds and letters about the need to end the discrimination against autism in Medicare.
    Our community will be having a rally on Parliament Hill on September 21 at 11:30am to call for Medicare coverage for autism treatment.  You and your cabinet and caucus colleagues are most welcome to come and join us!  The media is expected too.
    We hope that during the election campaign you will make a commitment to taking a leadership role in the struggle to get Medicare coverage for autism treatment.  If you do, you’ll get many votes from our community.
    Sincerely,
    Andrew Kavchak
    Ottawa
    August 21, 2019 at 5:21 pm #23592
    Andrew Kavchak
    Participant

    Hi Folks,

    Today we got a pretty good indication from the federal Liberals about why they don’t support Medicare coverage for ABA autism treatment and why we should not expect anything serious from them in any upcoming election campaign promises.

    Below is a copy of a petition that was tabled on May 17, 2019.  Today, August 21, the government “tabled” their official written responses.  There are three, from three separate Ministers.  I have copied the petition and the three responses below.  They are from:

    https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-2138

    The most important section is at the very end from the Minister of Health where she indicates that the Canada Health Act (Medicare) is supposed to cover medically necessary services provided by hospitals and doctors.  She then says that ABA is provided outside of hospitals by non-physicians and is therefore outside the scope of the CHA (and Medicare).

    Well, well,…the technical argument.  Perhaps it would be a valid argument if it was based on truthful facts….but it is not.

    In Ontario the Ontario Autism Program which administers the ABA treatment program for kids is delivered by the Ministry of Community and Social Services through “regional providers”.  In Eastern Ontario, the regional providers of this ABA treatment for autism service is the “Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario” (CHEO).  Thus, her description of the fact is not just misleading, it is simply incorrect.  If the criteria of whether something should be covered is limited to services provided by a hospital or doctor, then coverage should have started from day one (1999) in Ontario.  It is amazing that after 20 years (two full decades!) every Minister continues to deny, deny and deny the truth that is in this city and just a short car ride from Parliament Hill.

    But supposing that it was true that no hospital in Ontario was involved with the delivery of ABA treatment for autism.  What would be the basis of the suggestion that just because it was not in the past, it could not be done in the future?  This kind of rationale is reflective of the key principle guiding all government bureaucracies: the preservation of the status quo.  Any creative thinking is always used to think up reasons to not change the existing order of things.  The fact that the medical and scientific community have known since the 1980s that ABA treatment is not only evidence-based but is the only evidence-based treatment for autism (until science comes up with another and hopefully better one and possibly one day a cure) and that it is thus “medically necessary” is apparently something too complex for the Minister and her bureaucrat colleagues to deal with.

    But is it surprising that politicians can repeatedly get away with such false arguments?  Who in the autism community, besides me and my friends,  has been making this argument in an attempt to get the Minister to stop talking nonsense and get on with taking a responsible approach to rectify this scandalous discrimination under Medicare?  I scan the media, social media, websites, etc. and I don’t see it anywhere.  Not CASDA, not the Ontario Autism Coalition,  not Autism Canada, not the Autism Society of Ontario (or whatever they call themselves now), and certainly none of the activists who have started to talk up a storm on social media over the past few months in Ontario. etc.   So no wonder the politicians can say such falsehoods and get away with it.  Nobody knows and nobody even seems remotely interested.
    <h2>PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS</h2>

    Whereas:

    <ul class=”whereas”>

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects 500,000 Canadians;
  • Supporting an individual with autism is beyond the financial means of most Canadians;
  • Intensive, early intervention has proven effective in the treatment of ASD;
  • The patchwork of federal and provincial programs fails to support people with ASD;
  • Major life transitions pose one of the greatest challenges for families (i.e. from high school to adulthood), and transition supports are insufficient;
  • Canadians with ASD are vulnerable;
  • Schools very rarely allow health care professionals on site to support children with ASD;
  • The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is in a conflict of interest when they determine Disability Tax Credit (DTC) eligibility; and
  • The Senate of Canada published “Pay now or pay later: Autism families in crisis” in 2007.
    • We, the undersigned, <b>Citizens of Canada</b>, call upon the <b>House of Commons </b>to:
    1. Create a funded national autism and special needs strategy developed in partnership with provinces and territories, and needs-based, timely services delivered to Canadians in need, thus strengthening our commitment to human rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
    2. Seek multi-partisan support;
    3. Enshrine evidence-based therapies such as applied behaviour analysis, occupational therapy, speech therapy into the Canada Health Act;
    4. Move eligibility assessments for the DTC from the CRA to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC);
    5. Modify the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) to permit withdrawals without penalty for post-secondary education;
    6. Create an ombudsman to investigate when governments fail to honour the strategy;
    7. Create programs for life transitions;
    8. Expand the housing program for vulnerable groups;
    9. Create a caregiver allowance for caregivers of high needs children; and
    10. Regulate providers of autism therapy services.

    The responses of the three are copied below.  The first is from the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development:

    Input Pertaining to Point 5 of the Petition:

    The Government of Canada recognizes the need for long-term planning to ensure that Canadians with long-term
    disabilities will have the resources they need as they age. The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) supports families
    with long-term financial planning and is designed to help Canadians, including children, with severe and prolonged
    disabilities and their families save for their long-term financial security. To support this goal of saving for the future, the
    Government of Canada deposits Canada Disability Savings Grants and Bonds into the RDSPs of eligible beneficiaries.
    Each year, more Canadians are using RDSPs to save for themselves or for a loved one with a disability.
    Since December 2008, several improvements have been made to the RDSP to provide Canadians with disabilities and
    their families with more flexibility when saving for the future, such as allowing beneficiaries to access unused grant and
    bond entitlements from the previous ten years. Other improvements include allowing beneficiaries to make small
    withdrawals from their RDSP without having to repay all grants and bonds accumulated in the previous ten years;
    providing greater access to RDSPs by people with episodic disabilities; and, allowing, under certain conditions, the
    interest earned on a child’s Registered Education Savings Plan to be rolled over tax-free into his or her RDSP.
    Through Budget 2019, the Government of Canada announced two additional measures to improve the rules governing
    RDSPs. These proposed changes would allow people who become ineligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) to keep
    their RDSPs open and not have to repay grants and bonds, and allow assets held in RDSPs to be exempted from seizure
    in bankruptcy proceedings, on the same terms as Registered Retirement Savings Plans and Registered Retirement
    Income Funds.
    Additional information regarding the Canada Disability Savings Program is available on the following website:
    https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/disability/savings.html.

    The second response is from the Minister of Finance:

    The Government understands that individuals with disabilities may face unique challenges in accessing and completing
    post secondary education, including financial barriers. Budget 2019 contains measures that will better support persons
    with disabilities to meet their post-secondary studies goals. By modernizing the Canada Student Loans Program for
    student borrowers with disabilities, these changes would:
    • Increase the cap on the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities
    from $8,000 to $20,000 per year, to help students with permanent disabilities afford the necessary services and
    equipment for their studies.
    • Expand eligibility for the Severe Permanent Disability Benefit so that more student borrowers with severe permanent
    disabilities can qualify for loan forgiveness; and,
    • Make it easier for students with permanent disabilities to return to school with support after a long absence.
    These changes would also implement interest-free and payment-free leave in six-month stackable periods, for a
    maximum of 18 months, for borrowers taking temporary leave from their studies for medical reasons, including mental
    health leave.
    Within the tax system, the Government also offers specific tax measures and supports to help individuals with
    disabilities to save for their education. Individuals wishing to save specifically for education purposes can do so through
    a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). The Government supports savings in an RESP with the Canada Education
    Savings Program, which provides Canada Education Savings Grants and Canada Learning Bonds. Income earned on
    contributions to RESPs, including federal grants and bonds, grows tax-free until it is withdrawn. Additional flexibility
    may exist for those saving in an RESP for a person with a severe disability, in that investment income earned in an RESP
    may be transferred on a tax-free basis, to a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) for that same beneficiary.
    While the Government appreciates the spirit of the petition, the purpose of the RDSP is to provide a tax-assisted savings
    vehicle to help Canadians save for the long-term financial security of an individual with a severe disability, rather than to
    assist with education-related expenses. The limits that exist on withdrawals from an RDSP are based on
    recommendations by an external expert panel and are designed to ensure the RDSP helps to support long-term savings.
    The Government of Canada is committed to further supporting the financial security of persons with disabilities. Budget
    2019 proposes to remove the requirement to close an RDSP when an RDSP beneficiary no longer qualifies for the
    Disability Tax Credit (DTC). Allowing a beneficiary to keep their RDSP open during periods in which they do not qualify
    for the DTC will ensure RDSP beneficiaries are not required to return amounts they received during a period when they
    qualified for the DTC. Budget 2019 also proposes to exempt RDSP assets from seizure in bankruptcy, with the exception
    of contributions made in the 12-month period prior to bankruptcy. Together these measures will better protect the
    long-term savings of persons with disabilities.

    And the third and final one is from the Minister of Health:

    The Government of Canada is committed to helping Canadians with disabilities, including Canadians living with Autism
    Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families and caregivers.
    The federal approach to ASD will continue to focus on significant research investments, such as filling gaps in data and
    funding community-based projects that will provide information as well as on providing, resources and tools to those
    that need it most. These areas are complementary to and respectful of provincial and territorial roles in early detection,
    diagnosis, treatment and services.
    The Government of Canada is investing $10.9 million over the next five years to create the Autism-Intellectual Developmental Disabilities National Resource and Exchange (AIDE) Network, led by the Pacific Autism Family Network
    and the Miriam Foundation. The AIDE Network will provide online access to credible and evidence-based ASD
    information, as well as an inventory of services, employment opportunities and local programming across the country. In
    addition, six AIDE locations across Canada will provide a point of access for Canadians to obtain resources and supports
    on ASD. The objective of this project is to make it easier for families to access the resources and information they need.

    In addition to this investment, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has established the ASD Strategic Fund to
    better support the needs of individuals living with ASD and their families. The ASD Strategic Fund will invest $9.1 million
    over five years in community-based projects that provide tangible opportunities for individuals living with ASD, their
    families and caregivers to gain knowledge, resources and skills. In August 2018, PHAC launched an open call for
    proposals and many submissions were received from organizations from across the country. On April 2, 2019, the
    Minister of Health announced the first of several projects. Autism Nova Scotia will receive more than $800,000 in
    funding and in-kind contributions to scale up an existing Healthy Relationships, Sexuality & Autism Program geared to
    adults with ASD, aged 18 and older, across Atlantic Canada. These projects will aim to promote improved health
    behaviors and, in the longer-term, improved wellbeing for individuals affected by ASD.
    PHAC is also supporting the Canadian Paediatric Society to collaborate with a national group of experts to develop
    clinical assessment guidelines. These guidelines will support health care practitioners to diagnose and provide follow-up
    care for children and youth with ASD.
    An essential aspect in supporting front-line efforts in the health care, education and social service sectors is developing
    an understanding of the magnitude, and characteristics, of individuals with ASD both across regions and over time.
    Although there are existing repositories of ASD data across the country, there are no comprehensive and comparable
    national level data. In response, PHAC established the National ASD Surveillance System (NASS) with an initial focus on
    child and youth populations. The NASS is a collaboration of federal, provincial and territorial governments working to
    build a comprehensive picture of ASD in Canada. The key objectives of the NASS are to:
    Estimate how many children and youth in Canada have ASD (i.e. prevalence) and how many new cases (i.e. incidence)
    are emerging over time;
    Describe the population of children and youth in Canada with ASD and compare patterns within Canada and
    internationally;
    Increase public awareness and understanding of ASD; and,
    Inform research, policy and program decision-making.
    On March 29, 2018, PHAC, together with the provinces and territories, released the first NASS report, Autism Spectrum
    Disorder Among Children and Youth in Canada. The report stated that based on 2015 data, it is estimated that among
    children and youth, aged 5-17 years, 1 in 66 has received an ASD diagnosis. Moving forward, PHAC will release NASS
    findings regularly as new data are received.
    Research is instrumental to augment our understanding of ASD and to establish evidence-based practices to better
    support individuals through the lifespan. Between 2014-15 and 2017-18, the federal government invested close to $42
    million in research related to ASD through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). This investment
    contributes to the ongoing efforts to advance knowledge about the underlying causes of ASD and to translate this
    knowledge into better diagnostic tools and treatments for patients. These research translation efforts are supported by
    CIHR’s Research Chairs, one of which was held by Dr. Jonathan Weiss. As the Chair in Autism Disorders Treatment and
    Care Research (2013-2018), Dr. Weiss’ research focused on the prevention and treatment of mental health problems in
    people living with ASD. Dr. Weiss launched the ASD Mental Health Blog to disseminate research and resources on
    mental health and ASD to a diverse audience which includes parents, caregivers, physicians and researchers.
    The Canada Health Act (CHA) requires that medically necessary hospital and physician services be covered by provincial
    and territorial health care insurance plans. The Act does not specify diseases or conditions. Any service provided by a
    physician or in a hospital that is considered to be medically necessary in the treatment of a disease or condition should
    be covered by the provincial and territorial health care insurance plans.
    Other health care services provided outside hospitals and by non-physicians, such as Applied Behaviour Analysis and
    supports for individuals with ASD, are outside the scope of the CHA. For these services, it is up to the provincial and
    territorial governments to determine whether to cover them, and if so, how, either under their health care plans or
    under separately funded programs.
    The federal government continues to support this approach, which is respectful of provincial and territorial jurisdiction
    in health. There are no plans to amend the CHA to include treatment of specific diseases or conditions.
    Finally, I would like to affirm the Government of Canada’s commitment to an open and ongoing dialogue with provincial
    and territorial partners and stakeholders to help address the needs of those living with ASD.