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:
State and Federal
Legislative
Advocacy:
Direct engagement with
State Legislators and
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:
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.
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.
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.