Funding ABA Therapy is Critical
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ABA therapy is the most effective, evidence-based treatment for children on the autism spectrum.
Recent legislation has attacked ABA funding in an effort to cut Medicaid costs, but these decisions will have devestating costs of their own.
What Is ABA Therapy and Why Is It Important?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a research-based approach that helps individuals (most commonly those diagnosed with autism) build fundamental, meaningful skills and reduce barriers to engaging in typical life activities.
ABA is widely recognized within the medical and scientific community as an effective, evidence-based therapy for autistic traits. For many individuals, especially those with significant support needs, ABA is not optional; it is essential to developing foundational life skills that impact health, safety, and long-term outcomes.
ABA therapy is considered medically necessary because it directly addresses core symptoms of autism that can affect a person’s ability to communicate, learn, and function independently. Without appropriate intervention, individuals may face increased risks related to health, safety, and access to education and employment. Early and consistent ABA therapy can reduce the need for more intensive services later in life. It improves quality of life and supports greater independence.
Public funding coverage for this healthcare ensures that families can access this critical care regardless of income. Protecting access to ABA therapy is not just about supporting individuals with autism—it is about investing in healthier communities, stronger families, and equitable access to medically necessary treatment.
Why Are Time Caps on ABA Therapy So Devastating?
Time and consistency are critical in the successful delivery of ABA therapy. Limiting children's treatment without evaluating their need - as recent legislative changes have done - is illogical and harmful.
Reductions in funding coverage harm children who rely on ABA therapy and violate the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) which prohibits time caps for ongoing health conditions.
Most children receiving ABA therapy rely on more than 30 hours a week. This is based on an assessment of medical necessity by their healthcare provider. Providing less than this goes against the data-driven principles that guide all ABA decisions.
Clients with reduced hours will need to remain in ABA longer to achieve similar results. But a longer time is not an equal time. They'll be swimming upstream since building skills becomes harder with age. Reduced time per week can even halt progress entirely or cause progress to backslide.
It is already well documented that behavioral issues increase when ABA is halted for non-medical reasons. A successful transition can only happen when children have mastered the necessary skills and can apply them across all environments. A premature end can undermine progress.
Legislative time limits are not based on medical need, and they fly in the face of the data-driven practices that make ABA therapy effective. Children learn at different paces. Expecting swift results in every case is absurd. Slow progress does not mean the therapy isn't important - often it emphasizes the opposite.
Changes Ignore the Long-Term Economic Impact:
If these changes are enacted, it will cause negative ripple effects throughout our state for years to come. These children will not be able to be fully active and engaged participants in their community without the ABA therapy they need.
The proposed limits will increase costs for the state in the future, not decrease them. By not providing the appropriate treatment now, the state will pay more later for more complex and costly services.
In Summary:
ABA is helping children to flourish by providing them with the skills and tools they need to navigate life. But learning to use tools takes time, often more than 3 years and 30 hours per week of services. It is horrifying that children with disabilities might lose access to this treatment because they are not progressing as quickly as the Medicaid budget would like.