CA SB163

Requires health care service plans and health insurers to provide coverage for behavioral health treatment for pervasive developmental disorder or autism based on behavioral, developmental, relationship-based, or other evidence-based models.

Expands the definition of qualified autism service professionals to include behavioral service providers with specified educational and professional experience qualifications, and requires background checks for both professionals and paraprofessionals.

Requires intervention plans to include individualized parent or caregiver participation when clinically appropriate, and prohibits denial or reduction of medically necessary services based on lack of parental participation or treatment setting, location, or time.

Removes the Medi-Cal program exception from coverage requirements to align with federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act provisions.

Specifies that treatment setting, location, or time cannot be used as the sole reason to deny coverage for medically necessary services, except school-based services provided as part of individualized education programs.