Autism providers press for parity, Medicaid fee schedule and temporary workforce flexibilities in budget

Anthony Brownell Sr., speaking for ABA providers and the Ohio Association of Behavior Analysis, told the Senate Finance Committee that families face access barriers to applied behavior analysis (ABA) services and that proposed budget amendments would improve coverage without increasing state fiscal cost.

Brownell said commercial plans continue to impose age, hour and visit caps that violate federal mental health parity law and urged removal of quantitative treatment limits. He asked that Medicaid implement a new fee‑for‑service reimbursement schedule for ABA developed by Milliman and that the new Medicaid fee schedule begin July 1, 2025, to avoid a disruptive gap in provider participation.

Nut graf: the amended requests combine parity enforcement, rate alignment to new Medicaid schedules, and a short‑term workforce flexibility that would allow competent, not‑yet‑certified technicians to deliver services while completing national certification — the witnesses said these changes would increase access and reduce provider attrition without additional state appropriation.

Brownell said only about 8% of Medicaid‑eligible children with autism currently access ABA under existing Medicaid arrangements and that Ohio risks provider and family migration to neighboring states if commercial and Medicaid policies are not aligned.

Ending: providers requested adoption of Medicaid and insurance amendments in the budget to stabilize ABA access and commit to no fiscal impact for the state; senators did not vote on the proposed changes during the hearing.