Foster children’s autism therapy at risk as Georgia lawmakers step into funding fight
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.
In short
- 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.
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The case for
Advocates argue that the reimbursement cut could make one-to-one ABA sessions financially unviable for providers, reducing foster children’s access to care and disrupting progress. They say technicians deliver much of that therapy, and that any review should involve families and clinicians who understand its practical effects.
The case against
Amerigroup’s case is that reimbursement should reflect the complexity of each service: it raised rates for treatment planning and caregiver engagement while reducing some technician-delivered services. It says licensed clinicians’ rates remain unchanged and medically necessary care is still covered, suggesting the adjustment can control costs while preserving access to clinically important treatment.
Explained simply
In Georgia, children in foster care receive health services through Medicaid, the public health insurance programme for people who meet eligibility rules. Applied behaviour analysis, or ABA, is a type of therapy used to support some autistic children with communication, daily activities and other skills.
Amerigroup manages Medicaid services for these children and sets the rates it pays providers. The therapy is often delivered in one-to-one sessions by technicians, with licensed clinicians overseeing treatment and planning. Families, providers and state lawmakers are involved in discussions about how the programme is funded.
Payment rates affect how much clinics are reimbursed for care. The issue matters because changes in those payments can affect whether providers continue offering therapy to children in foster care and how consistently children can access support.