# Foster children’s autism therapy at risk as Georgia lawmakers step into funding fight

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/foster-childrens-autism-therapy-at-risk-as-georgia-lawmakers-step-into-funding-fight/
- Published: 2026-10-25T10:00:58+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-25T11:23:40+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Far right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/foster-childrens-autism-therapy-risk-georgia-lawmakers-step-funding-fight
- Topics: Health, Mental Health, World

## Key points

- Georgia foster children’s ABA therapy rates were cut by 30%.
- Advocates fear some clinics may stop serving foster children.
- Amerigroup says licensed clinician rates and covered care remain unchanged.

## Summary

Georgia families, autism providers and Republican state senator Brian Strickland are urging officials to reverse a 30% cut to reimbursement for applied behaviour analysis (ABA) therapy for children in foster care. The reduction, introduced by Medicaid administrator Amerigroup on 1 September, has raised fears that providers may stop treating these children, putting their progress and access to care at risk.

Amerigroup says it adjusted rates according to service complexity, raising payments for treatment planning and caregiver engagement while cutting some technician-delivered services; it says licensed clinicians’ rates were not reduced and medically necessary care remains covered. Advocates say technicians provide much of the children’s one-to-one therapy and warn that as many as 75% of clinics could close or stop serving foster children. They want the cuts reconsidered with families and clinicians involved in the review.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.