Pennsylvania Settles Class Action Lawsuit To Improve Access To Medicaid Autism Services & ABA

On June 7, 2016, the court overseeing a class-action lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) regarding its policies for Medicaid-funded applied behavior analysis (ABA) for children diagnosed with autism approved the state’s settlement. The settlement requires DHS to explicitly cover ABA, and to develop new regulations that include the training and experience required to provide ABA. Until the regulations are issued, DHS will require provider organizations who wish to provide ABA to state in writing that they have licensed staff who have confirmed in writing that they have the needed knowledge, skills, and training . . .