The National Coalition for Access to Autism Services (NCAAS) commends CMS and the Trump Administration for taking steps to strengthen oversight of autism services while also protecting access to applied behavior analysis (ABA) for children who need it. This toolkit rightly emphasizes that effective ABA therapy is individualized, and that children deserve treatment plans based on medical necessity and clinical judgment. It also provides states with practical tools that will strengthen program integrity, provide clarity, and help root out bad actors. NCAAS looks forward to working with CMS and state Medicaid agencies to help build on the toolkit recommendations and produce meaningful reforms to ensure that children in need of ABA therapy continue to have full access to it.
About NCAAS
The National Coalition for Access to Autism Services (NCAAS) is a national nonprofit representing providers and advocates of evidence-based autism treatment. NCAAS members serve tens of thousands of families affected by autism spectrum disorder and work with TRICARE, Medicaid, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), CHAMPVA (the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare program) the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and commercial insurers. NCAAS members serve a broad range of patients of all ages with varying degrees of autism, although most patients are children. NCAAS represents large, medium, and small business providers of applied behavior analysis (ABA), the primary therapeutic treatment for children diagnosed with autism.