Give a personal statement about how ABA has improved life for your family or a family you know, and compare to what would have happened without it. For example: "I am calling to express my concern that Medicaid's coverage of ABA therapy is being repeatedly reduced. I have seen ABA therapy make such a dramatic difference for my ______ (child, niece/nephew, grandchild, whole family, friend's child, student, etc.)..." Then continue in your own words about the importance of ABA therapy as the best, most rigorously evidence-based treatment for autistic symptoms, the difference you've seen because of it, and the way it opened up future possibilities.

Explain that reducing coverage harms families and amplifies the future financial burden for us all. Discuss the financial burden being placed on families; how underserved children will not be able to be independent or productive citizens; and the ripple effect that this in turn will have on our community.

Be clear that limiting coverage was not a good way to fix the budget. For example: "Reducing access to healthcare and reducing the wages of those who provide healthcare is not how taxpayer dollars should be saved. This is not a wise way to reduce costs - it will only result in more expenses for our community later on when these children need adult support services that could have been avoided. ... There are several other options for cost reduction that cause no harm to children or local service providers..." Then relay these points in your own words: 1. End wasteful spending, such as paying for Telehealth ABA, where meaningful outcomes were never realistic. The idea of providing hands-on behavior intervention through an iPad defies common sense. 2. Stop funneling state dollars out of state by limiting the expansion of national corporations that send profits back to their home offices rather than reinvesting locally. 3. Reduce red tape for Behavior Technicians by simplifying credentialing and documentation so they can focus on clients, not paperwork. 4. Streamline authorization and claims processes to eliminate the excessive administrative time spent appealing denials, chasing partial authorizations, and disputing unpaid claims week after week. 5. If the amount of therapy must be reduced, it should be done flexibly and thoughtfully, without red tape and without cutting reimbursement rates themselves. Cutting rates doesn’t just reduce access; it undermines the entire workforce that delivers care.

"I need you to help protect the remaining coverage and work to reverse course as quickly as possible..." Ask them to: 1. Vote in favor of any legislation that protects or reopens access to Medicaid coverage of ABA therapy. 2. Author or Co-Author legislation that does this. 3. Vote against any legislation that further reduces coverage or makes providing services more burdensome. 4. Advocate to and negotiate with their fellow legislators so they will join in all of the above.

Let them know you are staying informed of what legislators are doing to protect healthcare for this vulnerable population and that this will play a huge role in how you vote in this election cycle. If you don't often vote, let them know that this issue is big enough to bring you to the polls.