Autism providers warn foster kids at risk from unintended consequences of Trump's Medicaid fraud crackdown

Autism therapy providers who earlier applauded the Trump administration's drive against Medicaid fraud are now cautioning that the effort is hurting some of the most vulnerable patients. In Georgia, Amerigroup, the insurer that handles Medicaid coverage for the state's foster children, has lowered what it reimburses autism therapy providers by 30%. Fox News reports the exclusive warning came from the Autism Families Alliance.

The group, which says it advocates for Applied Behavior Analysis providers and the families depending on them, argues that federal and state anti-fraud measures have overreached. Providers say they may not be able to afford treating these children anymore, and many foster families cannot simply move a child to a different insurer. Taylor Sanders, a family advocate at the alliance, said 75% of clinics would have to shut down or stop accepting foster children because of the reductions.

Sanders told Fox News Digital that children with autism are still acquiring safety skills, and that some display extremely aggressive or challenging behaviors. She said lower pay leaves providers unable to set staff up for success, so fewer children will get services at all.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →