ABOUT THE
COALITION
OUR
MISSION
The Autism Alliance Network exists
to protect, preserve, and strengthen access to autism and ABA services for children and families across America. Through coordinated federal and state advocacy, we ensure that
the voices of autism service providers are heard in the policy decisions that shape our industry and the lives of the families we serve.
OUR
VISION
A healthcare policy landscape
where every child with autism has
access to high-quality, evidence-based services — regardless of where they live, how their family receives insurance, or which Medicaid managed care organization administers their benefits.
WHAT
WE DO
AAN provides autism service providers with:
Federal Legislative Advocacy:
Direct engagement with Congress on
Medicaid policy, healthcare financing, and
autism services legislation
Strategy:
Coordinated advocacy to address Medicaid managed care challenges, rate adequacy, and network access
Regulatory Intelligence:
Real-time monitoring and analysis of federal
and state regulatory developments affecting
autism services
Unified Industry Voice:
A platform for leading autism service providers to
collaborate on shared policy priorities
Crisis Response:
Rapid mobilization when legislative or regulatory threats emerge that could impact autism services
LEADERSHIP
AAN was founded by two of the nation's leading
healthcare government affairs professionals:
Darren Patz is a Partner at DLA Piper LLP, where he leads healthcare government affairs and regulatory advocacy for behavioral health providers nationwide. With nearly two decades of experience in healthcare law and lobbying, Darren has advised leading autism service providers, hospital systems, and healthcare organizations on Medicaid policy, managed care disputes, and legislative strategy at both the federal and state levels. He previously served as Senior Vice President & Chief Government Affairs Officer at a publicly traded healthcare company, where he built a national government affairs operation spanning dozens of states.
Jeremiah Mankopf is the Principal of MGS Consultants, a government affairs firm
specializing in healthcare policy and behavioral health advocacy. Jeremiah brings
extensive experience in federal and state legislative strategy, with a particular focus
on Medicaid financing, provider reimbursement, and autism services policy. His work has helped shape healthcare legislation in multiple states and at the federal level.
Together, Darren and Jeremiah have represented many of the nation's largest
autism and ABA service providers, building deep expertise in the unique
policy challenges facing this critical sector of behavioral health.