Georgia senator challenges autism therapy funding cut

Cut brings pressure at the Capitol

Amerigroup reduced reimbursement rates for applied behavior analysis, or ABA, therapy by 30% on Sept. 1. The company administers Medicaid coverage for children in Georgia’s foster care system.

State Sen. Brian Strickland, a McDonough Republican and parent of a child with autism, joined parents and therapy providers at the state Capitol to call for the reduction to be reversed. He said the lower rates could jeopardize care for foster children who rely on consistent treatment.

Autism advocates have described the change as an unintended result of a broader federal effort to combat Medicaid fraud. Their concern is that clinics may be unable to continue offering the same level of one-on-one care at the reduced reimbursement rate.

Risks raised by families and providers

Taylor Sanders of the Autism Families Alliance said as many as 75% of clinics could close or stop treating foster children because of the reduction. That figure is the group’s warning, not a state estimate.

Sanders said interruptions in therapy can lead to setbacks in communication and safety skills, as well as increases in challenging behavior. She described a 3-year-old who began using words after receiving ABA therapy but whose mother now fears the child will lose access before those skills can be maintained in different settings.

Kelsey Bennett of the Autism Families Alliance said each day without care can put children’s progress and further development at risk. The reimbursement reduction remains the central issue as families, providers and Strickland press for it to be reversed.