Representative Barbara L’Italien (D-Andover) today announced that the House of Representatives passed House 4177 – An Act to Maximize Federal Reimbursement for Special Education Services for Children with Autism. The legislation is now on its way to the Senate for engrossment.
This bill directs the Commonwealth to apply for a Medicaid waiver to maximize federal reimbursement for critical services, including intensive in-home intervention services, determined essential to support children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in their homes and communities. Children with autism frequently fail to receive essential services. Of those who do receive intensive in-home services through the school district or the state, 100% of the costs are covered by the Commonwealth and/or municipalities. With the Medicaid waiver, the Commonwealth can receive federal reimbursement for 50% of the cost of services which support children with autism in their home and communities. Currently, there are four states that have similar waiver programs: Wisconsin, Indiana, Colorado and Maryland.
“Securing a Medicaid waiver for children with autism will allow us to leverage at least $16 million of state dollars to receive $8 million in federal matching money, said Rep. L’Italien. It is truly a win-win for our autism families and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
Autism is the most widely diagnosed developmental disability in the nation, affecting 1 in 166 children, a ten-fold increase over the past 20 years. It is more common than the sum of all childhood cancers, muscular dystrophy, juvenile diabetes and cystic fibrosis combined. Every day, 66 children are diagnosed with autism… nearly 3 per hour.
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