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Witnesses urge clarity for bill to let clinicians provide medically prescribed supports in Michigan schools
Summary
Supporters told the House Education and Workforce Committee HB 5044 would let clinicians provide medically recommended services (chiefly ABA from BCBAs) inside public schools to keep students in the least restrictive environment, while some lawmakers urged tighter language on “medically necessary” definitions and scope.
Lansing — Supporters of House Bill 5044 told the Michigan House Education and Workforce Committee on Nov. 11 that the bill would remove barriers preventing privately recommended, medically necessary treatments from being delivered in school settings, enabling collaboration between school staff and outside clinical providers.
Heather Eckner, statewide director of education for the Autism Alliance of Michigan, testified that the bill is intended to expand access to evidence-based interventions — primarily applied behavior analysis (ABA) delivered by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) — so students can remain with non-disabled peers in their least restrictive environment. "The intent of this policy is to open up this access, so that these artificial barriers can't continue to be in the way of kids with needs," Eckner said.
The bill…
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