Georgia Autism Therapy Cuts Stir Debate Over Foster Children Care

The debate continues at Georgia’s state Capitol over a contentious reduction in reimbursement for autism therapy services provided to foster children. Families and advocates are urging a reversal of the recent cut, warning of potential setbacks for children relying on therapy.

Senator Strickland Joins the Fight

State Sen. Brian Strickland, a Republican from McDonough, has joined forces with parents and providers to push back against the 30% reduction in reimbursement rates for applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. These cuts, implemented by Amerigroup, have affected Medicaid coverage for foster children since September 1.

As a parent of a child with autism, Strickland is intimately familiar with the importance of ABA therapy. He expressed to Fox News Digital that such cuts were ‘indefensible’ and stood firm at the Capitol, advocating for the restoration of funding. Strickland, who is campaigning for the position of state attorney general, has promised to hold accountable those responsible for the reductions.

Impact of Medicaid Fraud Crackdown

The current situation is partly a fallout from the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on Medicaid fraud. Autism advocates are concerned that the reduced funding might force providers to cease treating foster children, an unintended outcome of the crackdown.

Families and clinicians, represented by Taylor Sanders of the Autism Families Alliance, have stressed the urgent nature of these cuts, citing regression in communication and safety skills among affected children and increasingly challenging behaviors.

Sanders warned that approximately 75% of clinics may close or stop servicing foster children due to the financial strain induced by the cuts.

Real Family Impact

One poignant story involved a family whose 3-year-old child began to use words following ABA therapy. This progress is now at risk due to the potential loss of services. Sanders recounted the mother’s emotional turmoil, highlighting fears of losing essential one-on-one therapy.

Sanders pointed out that the current therapy duration was insufficient to cement new communication skills across varied settings, marking a crucial time for development. Each day without therapy brings significant risks to reversing progress.

Advocates Push for Involvement

Advocates, including Kelsey Bennett from the Autism Families Alliance, are calling for the reimbursement cuts to be rolled back. They urge involving families and clinicians in policy reviews to ensure that critical care remains accessible and effective.

In response to complaints, Amerigroup stated that it adjusted ABA reimbursement rates based on service complexity and clinical expertise. While rates for licensed clinicians were unaffected, cuts were made to some technician-driven services. Despite reassurances of ongoing coverage for essential autism services, Sanders emphasized the impact on technicians who deliver much of the vital one-on-one care.

Sanders reiterated concerns about the potential for therapy interruption, stating that regaining lost progress is exceptionally challenging. She advocates for a reconsideration of the funding cuts, emphasizing collaboration between stakeholders before making significant changes.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Amerigroup and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for further comment.