South Carolina: State fails to provide services for most kids with ASD

Aug 7, 2017, GreenvilleOnline.com (SC): Advocates ask federal government to intervene in treatment of SC autistic children http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2017/08/07/advocates-ask-federal-government-intervene-treatment-sc-autistic-children/544393001/ A "large" number of South Carolina children suffering from autism are not getting access to medically necessary treatment they need because the state pays the lowest therapy rates in the nation, a lawyer representing advocates and organizations has told federal Medicaid officials. … Former DHHS Director Christian Soura told lawmakers in January, according to the letter, that of 1,066 children approved for services, 495 had been able to locate a provider to receive any service. And there was no assurance, according to Soura, that those children were receiving the number of treatment hours they needed. In addition, there were still 1,500 children on the waiting list, most of whom were eligible for services, Unumb wrote. "In the last several months, with the continued lack of meaningful action on rates, the situation appears to be worsening rather than improving," he wrote. "The debilitating effect of these delays and denials of care is profound and long-lasting. Expedited access to treatment is critical in treating ASD."… According to DDSN, there are more than 7,500 children ages 3-21 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in South Carolina.