OK – so if you follow or understand how Minnesota department of human services covers Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Services then you know for low income kids it has been unfair and unequal.
But we have some good news to report now. MN DHS after years of asking and begging to make sure low income families get equal autism therapies such as ABA – it has finally happened.
DHS has released a notice titled Pathways to ASD Services, click here to see that.
Basically, this means if you are low income, have a child with ASD, you are automatically enrolled into Managed Care Health Plans such as UCare, Health Partners, Medica, etc, which did not cover ABA services now has to. ABA is called in MN Skills Training until the new benefit is approved by CMS (Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services)
Here is background information on this;
First, Managed care plans should be covering whatever the state is approved for, but for those families on fee for service Medicaid which DHS managed were the only ones getting ABA aka skills training while managed care kids were denied.
Usually fee for services kids are upper/middle income families who have a child with a disability, even though those with managed care could have asked to be switched, but did not because no one usually told them they could do that.
Thus, disparity for low income autism kids who are disproportionately on managed care.
But now thanks so many people and persistent advocacy – MN DHS states Medicaid is Medicaid is Medicaid regardless of who is managing it and services should be the same for all on Medicaid.
So, if your child has ASD and has been denied skills training aka ABA – please let the provider know of this new change and call your health plan. If you are still having problems, there are numbers to contact for help.
I like to thank Amy Dawson first who sued managed care on behalf of a little boy with ASD who was denied ABA therapy and won. See that story here. She is the one that brought this to our attention back in 2010 and ever since then we had a laser like focus to change policy so that services for ASD kids are equal.
One person that I really give huge thanks to is Maura Lerner from Mpls Star Tribune who covered this story in a very detailed manner and kept asking DHS why the inequality which I think tilted the conversation. I along with so many autism families are very grateful to Maura and her fantastic writings. Also, thanks to Loren, Edwall, Wagner, Harrington and everyone at DHS that has tolerated our endless asking. It was a long journey, but equality is always worth it in my humble little opinion.
Finally, I thank current DHS leadership Jesson, Barry and Dr. Sulik from previous DHS administration who started this for us. The good news is that our state is no longer practicing double standard ASD services between the haves and the have-nots. How awesome is that!
As usual, above words are my own and do not reflect any committee.
Thanks!
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate