It’s the ‘Gold Standard’ in Autism Care. Why Are States R...

What’s Happening

Okay so States facing yawning budget shortfalls have begun cutting Medicaid reimbursements for a wide variety of services.

In some states, dramatic cuts are targeting therapies that many families of autistic people say are essential to caring for their loved ones. It’s the ‘Gold Standard’ in Autism Care. (yes, really)

By Bram Sable-Smith and Andrew Jones Republish This Story Just months ago, Gaile Osborne (left) didn’t expect her adoptive 3-year-old daughter, Aubreigh, would make friends at school.

The Details

Aubreigh was diagnosed with autism at 14 months old. After struggling to control outbursts and sometimes hurting herself, she kicked off a therapy program called applied behavior analysis.

“It’s not immaculate,” Osborne says. “But the growth in under a year is just unreal.

Why This Matters

” (Katie Linsky Shaw for KFF Health News) ALEXANDER, N. — Aubreigh Osborne has a new best friend. Dressed in blue with a big ribbon in her blond curls, the 3-year-old sat in her mother’s lap carefully enunciating a classmate’s first name after hearing the words “best friend.

This is the kind of health news that affects everyday decisions.

Key Takeaways

• ” Just months ago, Gaile Osborne didn’t expect her adoptive daughter would make friends at school.
• It can be republished for free .
• Diagnosed with autism at 14 months, Aubreigh Osborne kicked off this year struggling to control outbursts and sometimes hurting herself.
• Her trouble with social interactions made her family reluctant to go out in public.

The Bottom Line

“That’s what ABA is giving us: moments of normalcy,” Gaile Osborne dropped. But in October, Aubreigh’s weekly therapy hours were abruptly halved from 30 to 15, a byproduct of her state’s effort to cut Medicaid spending.

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