InPEAT, Indiana ACT for Families Coalition Members, Families, Send Letter to OMPP on Need for Autism Services
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Earlier this month, the Indiana ACT for Families coalition, InPEAT, The Arc of Indiana, and other coalition members sent a letter to the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP) urging them to consider all implications of Medicaid coverage cut for ABA therapy.
The letter strongly urges OMPP to consider “the need to increase access to these vital services for Hoosier children with autism and their families.” And emphasizes that, “It is important to understand the impact a cut in reimbursement rates would have on these children, their families, service providers and the state public health system.”
The letter explains the economic impact that a lower reimbursement rate would have on the state of Indiana, and why cutting the reimbursement rate for ABA therapy now would cause higher costs down the road.
“It is important to understand how ABA therapy is a resource saver. Services for adults with autism have a much higher cost than services for children – an estimated $175 to $196 billion a year, compared to $61 to $66 billion a year for children. Quality care with early intervention can reduce those costs sooner and provide a lifetime of benefits for children as they become adolescents and adults. Greater access to quality ABA therapy addresses these challenges that will lead to rising costs for Hoosier families and our public health system.”
The letter also highlights the need for full transparency from OMPP as they proceed in the review of ABA therapy reimbursement rates. The signers write, “We understand that Milliman consulting firm has been hired by the state to advise on rate methodology, which includes support from Myers & Stauffer to survey and screen responses from ABA therapy providers in the state… Since this is a complex process, transparency from OMPP on the status of the rate review is very important”
In the letter’s conclusion, the Indiana ACT for Families coalition and other signers clearly state that protecting Medicaid coverage of ABA therapy for Hoosier families who rely on it should be a public health priority for the state of Indiana.
“We look forward to working with you on ensuring that the final determination on Medicaid reimbursement rates for ABA therapy will ensure access to high quality care for Hoosier families who rely on ABA therapy. As a public health priority, we need to improve outcomes for people with autism, not roll them back. As a purely fiscal and economic concern, investing in ABA therapy now can result in cost savings for the state in the future.”
Full Text of the Letter below:
Dear Ms. Taylor,
On behalf of The Indiana ACT for Families Coalition, The Arc of Indiana, InPEAT, Autism Society of Indiana, Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center, Lighthouse Autism Center, Circle City ABA, Shine Pediatric Therapy, Autism Companion Services, Autism Center for Enrichment, and five Hoosier families, we write to underscore the importance of sustainable funding for autism care for Hoosier families. As your office works on its recommendations for the appropriate reimbursement rates for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy services for children with autism and other intellectual disabilities in our state, we want to emphasize some important information and considerations.
According to data compiled by Indiana University, about 15% of American children from age 3 to 17 are diagnosed with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and Down syndrome. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that 1 in 44 children were identified with autism as recently as 2018. This makes our state’s system of developmental and behavioral care services a vital lifeline for thousands of Hoosier children and their families.
ABA therapy is a key component of these care services for many Hoosier families. It is a scientifically validated approach for building learning and behavioral skills for children with neurodevelopmental conditions to lead better and more productive lives as they grow into adolescence and adulthood. The best outcomes with ABA therapy require early intervention, and better outcomes mean greater savings down the road for Indiana’s public health system. That is why we believe it is so important to ensure that families are not delayed or denied access to quality ABA therapy services.
We understand that Milliman consulting firm has been hired by the state to advise on rate methodology, which includes support from Myers & Stauffer to survey and screen responses from ABA therapy providers in the state. These contractors will inform Indiana’s Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP) for its proposed reimbursement rate schedule to be submitted to the State Budget Committee as an amendment to the State Plan. Since this is a complex process, transparency from OMPP on the status of the rate review is very important.
As your office proceeds in the review of ABA therapy reimbursement rates, we strongly urge consideration of the need to increase access to these vital services for Hoosier children with autism and their families. It is important to understand the impact a cut in reimbursement rates would have on these children, their families, service providers and the state public health system.
Before the Covid pandemic, waitlists for ABA therapy were already in the thousands because access was not keeping pace with demand. The subsequent shutdowns and disruptions to home- and community-based services severely curtailed access, and as we emerge from the pandemic with the added strain of inflation and burnout, staffing turnover among qualified ABA therapists has jumped from a best-case of 40% to nearly 100%. As a result, waitlists are currently longer as children age past the early intervention window. The care system in our state is at a vulnerable crossroads.
For these reasons, it is important to understand how ABA therapy is a resource saver. Services for adults with autism have a much higher cost than services for children – an estimated $175 to $196 billion a year, compared to $61 to $66 billion a year for children. Quality care with early intervention can reduce those costs sooner and provide a lifetime of benefits for children as they become adolescents and adults. Greater access to quality ABA therapy addresses these challenges that will lead to rising costs for Hoosier families and our public health system.
We look forward to working with you on ensuring that the final determination on Medicaid reimbursement rates for ABA therapy will ensure access to high quality care for Hoosier families who rely on ABA therapy. As a public health priority, we need to improve outcomes for people with autism, not roll them back. As a purely fiscal and economic concern, investing in ABA therapy now can result in cost savings for the state in the future.
Sincerely,
Indiana ACT for Families
The Arc of Indiana
InPEAT
Autism Society of Indiana
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center
Lighthouse Autism Center
Circle City ABA
Shine Pediatric Therapy
Autism Companion Services
Autism Center for Enrichment
Cassie Isza
Christina Snider
Donna Cox
Rashaundra Sutton
Taylor Stinefield
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Indiana ACT for Families is a broad coalition of Hoosier families, ABA therapists, ABA therapy providers, and stakeholders, including The Arc of Indiana and other advocacy groups, working to advocate in support of promoting access to high quality ABA therapy services in Indiana. For more information, please visit www.IndianaACT4Families.com.
For press inquiries please reach out to [email protected].
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