STATEHOUSE (Feb. 1, 2024) – The Indiana House of Representatives Monday advanced State Rep. Robb Greene's (R-Shelbyville) bill to compile data on recent Medicaid reimbursement changes involving a well-known treatment for Hoosiers with disabilities.
Applied behavioral analysis therapy is a treatment used for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and can focus on many vital areas of day-to-day life, including motor skills, socialization, academic skills and self-care. Greene said his bill would task the Family and Social Services Administration with reporting on the different statistics surrounding Medicaid reimbursement rates for ABA therapy, which changed in September.
"I've been able to see firsthand the amazing impacts this therapy can have. My son, RG, was saved by ABA, which has given him the tools to communicate with us, advocate on his own behalf, and has enabled him to enjoy more social settings," Greene said. " Through this bill, I want to take a data-driven approach to the ongoing conversation of Medicaid reimbursement rates so we can better understand how these changes will affect families across Indiana. With Autism Spectrum Disorder now the fastest-growing intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) worldwide, access to ABA will only continue to be top-of-mind for our state. Ensuring access to this interventive therapy can mean the difference between a child on the spectrum leading an independent life in adulthood or not."
Effective January 1, 2024, FSSA implemented a reimbursement rate schedule for ABA services that set a rate of $68.24 for services provided by a registered behavioral technician and a rate of $110.52 per hour for services provided by a master's level Board Certified Behavioral Analyst. Greene said he intends to collect the data outlined in House Bill 1156 to understand how these rates enable families to continue sending their child to ABA therapy.
According to Greene, FSSA's report would include a summary of the reimbursement rate changes, starting in January 2023 through October 2024. The analysis would include how many claims were made for Medicaid for ABA therapy per month, recipients per month authorized to use ABA therapy, the number of service providers who made claims for ABA therapy per month and other data.
House Bill 1156 now moves to the Senate for further consideration. For more information, visit iga.in.gov. To learn more about ABA therapy and the Medicaid reimbursement rates, visit in.gov/fssa.
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State Rep. Robb Greene (R-Shelbyville) represents House District 47,
which includes portions of Johnson and Shelby counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
