A dispute over a 30% reduction in reimbursement rates for autism therapy for Georgia foster children has escalated at the state Capitol, with Republican State Sen. Brian Strickland joining families and providers to demand that the cuts be reversed. The reduction, which went into effect Sept. 1 through Amerigroup, the company administering Medicaid coverage for children in Georgia's foster care system, has sparked warnings from advocates that vulnerable children could lose developmental progress.
What the Left Is Saying
While the pushback is led by a Republican lawmaker, the advocacy groups involved, such as the Autism Families Alliance, have aligned with broader progressive concerns about the impact of federal and state administrative changes on vulnerable populations.
Taylor Sanders of the Autism Families Alliance emphasized that 'time is crucial to these families,' noting that interruptions in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy lead to regression in communication and safety skills.
Sanders described the case of a 3-year-old foster child who had begun using words for the first time due to consistent one-on-one therapy. The child’s mother fears losing access to this treatment, a scenario Sanders described as 'absolute tears and so worried and frustrated.'
Advocates argue that the blanket approach to rate cuts fails to account for the clinical necessity of consistent, technician-delivered care.
Kelsey Bennett, also of the Autism Families Alliance, stated, 'For these children and their families, time matters. Every day without critical care risks reversing hard-earned progress and limiting opportunities for continued development.' The alliance is calling for families, clinicians, and stakeholders to be involved in reviewing the policy rather than relying on top-down administrative adjustments.
What the Right Is Saying
The political opposition to the cuts comes from within the Republican party, with State Sen. Brian Strickland framing the issue as one of accountability and basic service integrity.
Strickland stated, 'As a parent of a child with autism, I know what ABA therapy means for a family and Georgia's foster children, which is why I stood at the Capitol to make clear that these cuts are indefensible.'
Strickland’s stance reflects a conservative concern for the effective administration of state-funded programs and the protection of taxpayers' and beneficiaries' interests. By pledging to hold companies accountable if elected attorney general, Strickland positions himself as a watchdog against administrative overreach that negatively impacts constituents, even when the cuts are intended to address broader Medicaid fraud concerns.
What the Numbers Show
The reimbursement rate for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for foster children was reduced by 30% effective Sept. 1. Amerigroup, which administers the Medicaid coverage, stated in a release to FOX 5 Atlanta that it rebalanced rates based on service complexity and clinical expertise. The company noted that rates for treatment planning and caregiver-engagement services increased, while rates for some technician-delivered services decreased. Amerigroup confirmed that rates for licensed clinicians did not decrease and that medically necessary autism services remain covered.
However, Taylor Sanders of the Autism Families Alliance warned that as many as 75% of clinics could close or stop serving foster children due to the cuts. Sanders pointed out that the reductions specifically affect technicians, who provide much of the one-on-one care. 'Just because we put something down on paper doesn't mean that it's gonna be clinically effective or that these children are gonna be able to access care because companies are now having to maybe close their doors to these individuals because they can't afford the rate cut,' Sanders said.
The Bottom Line
The core tension lies between the administrative goal of rebalancing Medicaid reimbursement rates and the clinical reality that consistent, technician-delivered ABA therapy is critical for children with autism. While Amerigroup maintains that medically necessary services are covered and rates for licensed clinicians were protected, providers argue that the 30% cut to technician rates threatens the viability of clinics serving foster youth.
Advocates are urging state officials to reconsider the cuts and involve stakeholders in future policy reviews to prevent unintended consequences. The outcome of this political push, led by Sen. Strickland and supported by family advocates, will determine whether the reimbursement structure is adjusted to maintain access for Georgia's foster children. Fox News Digital has reached out to Amerigroup and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for additional comment.