Committee advances bill to extend applied behavior analysis for adults on CES waiver; DHS gives broad fiscal range

Senators voted to advance Senate Bill 507 after testimony emphasizing that many adults with autism continue to need evidence‑based behavior services beyond age 21.

Sponsor testimony and family witnesses described ABA as a targeted, measurable therapeutic method that helps people with autism develop daily living and employment skills. The sponsor and a family member who testified said Arkansas is an outlier because 42 other states cover ABA for adults on Medicaid in some form. Supporters argued that extending ABA to adults could enable more people to live at home, hold jobs, and reduce costly emergency and institutional care.

DHS staff told senators that the services must be added to the CES waiver and that federal approval would be required. DHS provided a fiscal range reflecting different enrollment assumptions: lower estimates assumed a modest number of clients would use services; higher estimates assumed a larger eligible population. Committee fiscal staff shared state cost scenarios ranging from roughly $3.6 million to $23 million in state funds depending on the number of clients served and the service intensity.

Committee members asked about the number of current child recipients and which adults would qualify; DHS said Medicaid already covers ABA for children and that the bill would be targeted to CES waiver participants with an autism diagnosis. After discussion, the committee voted to advance the measure to the full Senate by voice vote.