West Virginia has announced it will change Medicaid policy to provide treatment to Medicaid beneficiaries who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. In a matter of months, Medicaid will cover treatment for autism using applied behavior analysis (ABA), opening up access to more than 3,000 low-income children in the state.
Affected families who want to learn more about how ABA therapy can help their children and how they can get assistance with insurance are invited to attend the Mountaineer Autism Project (MAP) conference, set for 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the Bridgeport Conference Center.
Scholarships are available to fund participation.
Jill McLaury, state MAP secretary and director of Bright Futures Learning Services, said “ABA is considered by experts to be the gold standard of treatment that can make dramatic changes that permanently alter the trajectory of children’s lives.”
The purpose of the conference is to bring together a diverse group of providers, stakeholders and families to discuss the changing landscape of autism for kids and families in West Virginia. The conference agenda – with concurrent tracks for providers and families – will focus on navigating through the Medicaid program to receive ABA services, as well as building a network of support to improve the lives of children affected by autism in West Virginia.
To learn more, visit the MAP website at mountaineerautismproject.org or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WVMAP.
MAP is a nonprofit organization made up of parents and professionals that provides advocacy, family support, and information resources.
