Why Nevada’s Children Need SB257: Breaking Down Barriers to Timely Autism Diagnosis and Care

Nevada’s children and families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face enough challenges — accessing a timely diagnosis shouldn’t be one of them. That’s why we need your support for SB257, a crucial bill designed to eliminate unnecessary barriers to ASD diagnostics and ensure more children receive the care they need when they need it.

The Reality of Autism in Nevada

Today, 1 in 31 children — or 2.78% — are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In Nevada alone, according to the 2023 U.S. Census data, that’s more than 18,798 children under the age of 18.

Back in 2009, Nevada was a national leader by passing NRS 427A.872, one of the first laws requiring insurance coverage for autism services. That milestone law laid the groundwork for progress in autism care, but over the past 16 years, demand has continued to outpace available resources.

Despite growing awareness, Nevada’s average age for autism diagnosis remains 5.5 years, according to the National Autism Data Center at AJ Drexel University — later than the national average of 5 years, and well past the age when intervention can have the greatest impact.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends developmental surveillance at every well-child visit, with autism-specific screenings at 18 and 24 months. Yet far too many children are forced to wait years for diagnostic evaluations — delays that lead to missed opportunities for early, life-changing interventions.

Why Early Diagnosis Matters

Evidence is clear: early, evidence-based, intensive intervention before age 4 leads to significantly better outcomes in cognitive, language, and adaptive development for children with ASD. Waiting months — or even years — for diagnosis and treatment isn’t just frustrating for families, it directly affects a child’s potential and quality of life.

Late diagnosis is also linked to:

• Increased parental stress

• Delayed access to educational services

• Worsening behavioral and social challenges

Our children cannot afford to wait. 

How SB257 Makes a Difference

SB257 is designed to increase timely access to ASD assessment and care by addressing outdated language in existing legislation that has led to unnecessary barriers:

✅ Timely Access: Reduces delays by allowing qualified clinicians to diagnose within their scope of practice — ensuring children receive help without getting stuck on lengthy waitlists.

✅ Remove Barriers: Updates outdated criteria and requires insurers to accept valid ASD diagnostics from qualified providers, preventing unnecessary roadblocks for families.

✅ Empower Providers: Upholds ethical and legal standards while allowing licensed healthcare professionals — like pediatricians, developmental pediatricians, psychiatrists, neurologists, nurse practitioners – specializing in pediatric or neurodevelopmental care, and psychologists — to use clinical judgment within their respective scopes of practice and provide timely diagnoses.

✅ Ensure Insurance Coverage: Stops insurers from denying payment for services based on the absence of specific psychometric assessments (like neuropsychological testing) when a qualified provider has already determined a diagnosis.

Real-Life Impact

A prime example comes from Dr. Gaspar de Alba, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician in Nevada. He often diagnoses ASD in 4- or 5-year-old patients — well within his scope of practice. Yet, insurance companies frequently reject these diagnoses, requesting an additional “neuropsychological evaluation” — a term not even present in the original law.

Families are then placed on multi-year waitlists at places like the Ackerman Center – that accepts most insurances including Medicaid, where the wait for a neuropsychological evaluation can be 1 to 3 years. In the meantime, these children miss out on vital ABA therapy and early intervention services during their most formative years.

What SB257 Is NOT

To be clear, SB257 is not a scope of practice bill. It does not expand or limit who can diagnose autism. Existing Nevada law (NRS 629.031) outlines who is considered a “provider of healthcare”, encompassing a broad range of medical and behavioral health professionals. While this list is extensive, only those specific professionals, with appropriate training and practicing within their scope can provide the ASD diagnosis.

It also does not eliminate the need for psychometric, developmental, or neuropsychological evaluations. Those services remain essential and available when clinically indicated. SB257 simply ensures that timely, qualified diagnoses can’t be dismissed by insurers demanding unnecessary additional testing.

The Bottom Line

SB257 is about fairness, and ensuring every Nevada child has access to timely, evidence-based autism care. It aligns state regulations with best practices in pediatric and neurodevelopmental care and eliminates arbitrary insurance barriers that delay critical treatment.

The longer we wait to pass this legislation, the longer our children wait for the care they deserve.

🖊️ How You Can Help

📞 Contact your Nevada State Legislators and urge them to support SB257.

💻 Share this blog with friends, family, and advocacy groups.

Together, we can give Nevada’s children the chance to thrive.

For more information or to speak with someone at the Ackerman Center about this piece of legislation, please e-mail: legislation@grantagift.com