What's happening
This bill requires Medicaid in New York to cover applied behavior analysis for treating autism spectrum disorder.
Why it matters
Expands access to evidence-based autism care. By mandating Medicaid coverage for applied behavior analysis (ABA), this bill ensures that low-income children and adults with autism spectrum disorder can receive a widely recommended treatment that previously may have been unaffordable or inaccessible.
Standardizes provider qualifications. The bill specifies that ABA must be delivered by licensed behavior analysts or certified behavior analyst assistants, ensuring that treatment is administered by professionals with recognized training and credentials, which may improve care quality and outcomes.
Reduces disparities in autism services. Families relying on Medicaid will have the same access to ABA as those with private insurance, addressing a historical gap in behavioral health coverage and promoting more equitable health care for people with autism across New York State.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Medicaid Covers Autism Therapy
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Cover Autism ABA Therapy
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Gustavo Rivera
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2802
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 25, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GOTTFRIED, ABINANTI, SANTABARBARA, FAHY, ASHBY -read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to including applied behavioral analysis for treatment of autism spectrum disorder under standard coverage for Medicaid recipients
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 365-a of the social services law is amended by adding a new paragraph (ff) to read as follows:
(ff) applied behavior analysis, as defined in section eighty-eight hundred one of the education law, where such service is provided by a licensed behavior analyst or certified behavior analyst assistant, licensed or certified under article one hundred sixty-seven of the education law, for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03868-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.