Connecticut General Statutes Title 17A. Social and Human Services and Resources § 17a-215c. Division of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services within Department of Social Services. Services and programs for state residents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

(a) There is established a Division of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services within the Department of Social Services to oversee the operation of Medicaid state plan services and the Medicaid waiver program for autism spectrum disorder services.

(b) The Department of Social Services may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54,  1 to define the term “autism spectrum disorder”, establish eligibility standards and criteria for the receipt of services by any resident of the state diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, regardless of age, and data collection, maintenance and reporting processes. The Commissioner of Social Services may implement policies and procedures necessary to administer the provisions of this section prior to adoption of such regulations, provided the commissioner shall publish notice of intent to adopt such regulations not later than twenty days after implementation of such policies and procedures. Any such policies and procedures shall be valid until such regulations are adopted.

(c) The case records of the Division of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services maintained by the division for any purpose authorized pursuant to this section shall be subject to the same confidentiality requirements, under state and federal law, that govern all client records maintained by the Department of Social Services.

(d) The Commissioner of Social Services may seek approval of an amendment to the Medicaid state plan or a waiver from federal law, whichever is sufficient and most expeditious, to establish and implement a Medicaid-financed home and community-based program to provide community-based services and, if necessary, housing assistance, to adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder but not with intellectual disability.

(e) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory Council, shall designate services and interventions that demonstrate, in accordance with medically established and research-based best practices, empirical effectiveness for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. The commissioner shall update such designations periodically and whenever the commissioner deems it necessary to conform to changes generally recognized by the relevant medical community in evidence-based practices or research.