Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

State rate increase for autism therapy doesn’t satisfy advocates

After outcry from parents and advocates about the proposed reimbursement rate for providing autism therapy, Nevada Medicaid has increased the rate — but only slightly.

Applied behavior analysis therapy for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder will be covered by Nevada Medicaid starting Jan. 1. Funding for the program was approved by the Nevada Legislature this year.

The state today announced a revised rate of $31.31 per hour for providers to cover the cost of the therapy.

The rate is $1.70 more an hour than the previously proposed rate, which parents and advocates denounced as too low to attract skilled providers. Many attended a public meeting last month to oppose the previously proposed rate of $29.61 an hour.

Advocates have lobbied for a rate of $40 to $50 per hour, consistent with what other states pay.

State officials said “input was evaluated along with national standards, consistent rate methodologies and other data” to determine the revised rate of $31.31.

The Division of Health Care Financing and Policy, which operates Nevada Medicaid, is submitting the proposed rate methodology today to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid as a state plan amendment.

“This is a significant step forward for treating the children of Nevada whose lives can be greatly improved by receiving this type of therapy,” Richard Whitley, director of the state Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement.

Even so, the revised rate remains far below what the Lovaas Center, which provides ABA therapy to autistic children in the Las Vegas area, would need to cover operating expenses, said Sean Corley, a board-certified behavior analyst at the center.

The Lovaas Center serves 120 clients who are enrolled in Medicaid but receive funding for ABA therapy from the state Autism Treatment Assistance Program, Corley said. If those clients lose their ATAP funding because ABA therapy is covered by Medicaid, Corley worries where they will receive services.

“It’s just sad because, right now, families are receiving services through us, and they’ll be left in the dark,” he said.

State officials, however, said they have received letters from two providers stating they will be able to offer ABA therapy under the proposed reimbursement rate.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy