Ohio Autism Insurance Coalition

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An insurance carrier cannot use a general exclusion barring coverage for in-school treatment

“Ultimately, we simply do not believe that the legislature intended to permit insurers to exclude coverage in the sensory-laden educational environment where children spend large portions of their days, or to require families to litigate the issue of medical necessity discretely in individual cases to secure such location-specific coverage for the treatment,” Pennsylvania Supreme Court …

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What are the pros and cons of a school-based ABA program versus a center-based ABA program?

“More children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are being served in community-based public school environments than ever before. This is due to many factors, including increased numbers of children being diagnosed with ASDs, the inability of specialized programs to serve the numbers of children identified, and the efforts of public schools to develop in-house ABA …

What are the pros and cons of a school-based ABA program versus a center-based ABA program? Read More »

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ASD families in 19 Ohio counties will now have access to the Autism Directive Benefit because five insurers stepped up!

“Five insurers reached an agreement with the Ohio Department of Insurance to sell individual health plans in 19 of 20 counties that otherwise would have had no 2018 offerings on the subsidized federal Health Insurance Marketplace (ACA/Obamacare).” per Columbus Business First Only Paulding County in western Ohio still lacks an insurer on the exchange. What …

ASD families in 19 Ohio counties will now have access to the Autism Directive Benefit because five insurers stepped up! Read More »

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Rally to Stop Freeze on New Medicaid Enrollees. Ohio Representatives will vote Thursday to Override Kasich’s Veto. Call your Ohio Representative.

ndividuals with autism will be among the estimated 500,000 people expected to lose health insurance if a freeze on new Ohio Medicaid enrollees passes. Ohio’s Medicaid expansion mostly covers the state’s working poor population.  Governor Kasich stood up for Ohioans and vetoed the Medicaid freeze line item in the proposed state budget. However, the House …

Rally to Stop Freeze on New Medicaid Enrollees. Ohio Representatives will vote Thursday to Override Kasich’s Veto. Call your Ohio Representative. Read More »

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New Medicaid ABA Benefit Heads to JCARR on June 19th

After public testimony on May 15th, the new Medicaid ABA benefit called “Intensive Behavioral Services for Children with Autism (CIBS)” has been revised and refiled on Friday, May 26th. Now, the rule moves to JCARR scheduled for June 19, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. in the William McKinley hearing room at the Statehouse. JCARR consists of …

New Medicaid ABA Benefit Heads to JCARR on June 19th Read More »

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Lack of Eligible Provider Types Adds Access Challenges to Ohio’s Proposed ABA Medicaid Benefit

The Coalition has concerns that the proposed Medicaid ABA rule language offers a barrier to accessing treatment due to limiting the number of eligible practitioners and organizations who can provide services. Currently, The Department of Medicaid’s proposed ABA Medicaid benefit does not allow hospitals and community mental health centers to provide ABA treatment services under the …

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SELF Waiver Service’s FBAs and Interventions for Autism Move to Medicaid State Plan in CIBS on July 1st

In July 2017, Functional Behavioral Assessments and Clinical Intervention will no longer be available to individuals with autism under the age of 21 through a SELF Waiver provider. These two services will move to the new Medicaid State Plan service called Intensive Behavioral Services for Children with Autism or CIBS. Which means, the impacted individuals with autism …

SELF Waiver Service’s FBAs and Interventions for Autism Move to Medicaid State Plan in CIBS on July 1st Read More »

Read The Coalition’s Public Testimony on New Medicaid ABA Benefit

On July 7, 2014, Medicaid agencies were instructed to cover autism treatment services for children under age 21. The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) released draft rule language for a new Medicaid state plan, medical therapy service covering treatment interventions such as applied behavior analysis in Draft Rule: 5160-34-01 Intensive Behavioral Services for Children with Autism (CIBS). …

Read The Coalition’s Public Testimony on New Medicaid ABA Benefit Read More »

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Public Testimony for new ABA Medicaid Service Monday, May 15, 2017

On July 7, 2014, Medicaid agencies were instructed to cover autism treatment services for children under age 21. The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) released draft rule language for a new Medicaid state plan, medical therapy service covering treatment interventions such as applied behavior analysis in Draft Rule: 5160-34-01 Intensive Behavioral Services for Children with Autism (CIBS). …

Public Testimony for new ABA Medicaid Service Monday, May 15, 2017 Read More »