W. Virginia: Healthcare professionals call for more money for Medicaid autism support
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — North Central West Virginia healthcare professionals have called for an increase in financial support for children with autism through the state’s Medicaid program.
Independent pediatric healthcare professionals from both Marion and Monongalia Counties took part in a telepresser for the Mountaineer Autism Project (MAP) on Tuesday, where they called for Mountain State officials to begin work towards addressing Medicaid
reimbursements for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services. Dr. Susannah Poe, Board President of MAP and professor emerita at the WVU School of Medicine, spoke first where she described a situation where only 400 children across the state with autism gets such services in comparison to the 11,000 children within West Virginia who may need ABA care.
“There are roughly 20 ABA centers in our state, and less than half of them will take Medicaid payments, which is an enormous barrier,” said Poe.
According to Poe, less than two dozen ABA centers operate within the Mountain State, which reflects numbers that are amongst the lowest in the country. This is combined with only 186 Board Certified Behavior Analysts that are currently working within the state, which accounts for 10.5 for every 100,000 residents, ranking as the sixth-lowest ratio in the country. With professionals moving to other states and the inevitable cost increases that are involved in caring for someone with autism. . . .
“The barrier that we have is reimbursement for services,” said Poe. “ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis, is the gold standard and most recommended treatment for children with autism.”
Healthcare professionals in Marion County called for an increase in support due to the lack of ABA service providers that are able to accept Medicaid. According to MAP officials, less than half of the providers are able to accept Medicaid payments due to the specificity of requirements needed for reimbursement. The hope is that through increased support on Medicaid reimbursements, an increase in ABA care can be offered in parts of the state that are drastically in need.
“ABA may be covered on paper, but if a family can’t find a provider who can take their child, that coverage doesn’t mean very much,” said Dr. Jenna Wallace, a licensed pediatric clinical psychologist based out of Fairmont. “When children can’t get services early, their needs only grow as they get bigger and older.” . . .
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