Concerns Grow Over Autism Therapy Cuts for Foster Children in Georgia

A situation is developing at the Georgia State Capitol regarding cuts to autism therapy for foster children. Families and a Republican lawmaker are urging state officials to reverse a 30% reduction in reimbursements, warning that such measures might disrupt children’s hard-earned progress in therapy.

State Senator Brian Strickland, a Republican from McDonough, stood with parents and service providers on Thursday to voice concerns about the recent cuts to reimbursement rates for applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. These changes took effect on September 1 and were implemented by Amerigroup, which handles Medicaid services for the foster care system in Georgia.

Strickland, who has personal experience as a parent of a child with autism, emphasized the importance of ABA therapy for these families. He described the cuts as “indefensible” during an interview, expressing his commitment to holding companies accountable if he is elected as state attorney general.

Widespread Impact of the Cuts

The criticism regarding the cuts intensified after autism advocates highlighted the risk that some providers might withdraw from serving foster children. This concern was first raised in a report by Fox News Digital earlier this month.

Taylor Sanders from the Autism Families Alliance communicated to Fox News Digital that since the cuts were implemented, there has been a noticeable increase in families and clinicians vocalizing their fears. She stressed the urgency of the situation, noting, “Time is crucial to these families.” Sanders pointed out that delays in service could lead to regression in children’s communication and safety skills.

She shared the story of a mother whose 3-year-old had just begun using words after starting ABA therapy and is now anxious about losing that access. “She was in absolute tears,” Sanders said, recounting the mother’s fears about the therapy’s consistency and effectiveness.

Another advocate, Kelsey Bennett, added, “For these children and their families, time matters. Every day without critical care risks reversing hard-earned progress and limiting opportunities for continued development.” Bennett joined others in calling for a reversal of the cuts.

Responses from Amerigroup

In a statement to the media, Amerigroup indicated that they adjusted ABA reimbursement rates based on the complexity of services and the expertise required. While they increased rates for treatment planning and caregiver engagement, some rates for technician-delivered services were reduced. They claimed that rates for licensed clinicians remained stable, and crucial autism services are still covered.

However, Sanders pushed back, indicating that the cuts primarily impacted technicians who provide essential one-on-one care, raising concerns about accessibility for many children.

“Just because we put something down on paper doesn’t mean that it’s gonna be clinically effective,” Sanders remarked, highlighting the potential consequences of the cuts. “Progress lost is extremely hard to come back from,” she added, urging stakeholders to reconsider the cuts and consult with families and clinicians before making such significant changes.

Fox News Digital has sought additional comments from both Amerigroup and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding this issue.