Action Behavior Centers

🤝 Collaborative Innovation in Action Last week, @ActionBehavior's Family Advocacy Team visited The @BrookwoodComm to connect with their incredible citizens and leadership team. We’re grateful to Lt, Gov, @DanPatrick for facilitating this meaningful visit. Brookwood’s integrated model—featuring employment, residential living, healthcare, and retail—is truly inspiring. After a tour of the community, we enjoyed lunch at Brookwood’s Café, where their mission comes to life through inclusive employment The day continued at ABC’s West Katy Center, where Brookwood’s leaders saw ABA therapy in action and both teams shared ideas to support individuals with unique needs. Thank you to everyone who made this collaboration possible. Together, we’re reimagining what’s possible for the communities we serve. #Collaboration #Advocacy #Empowerment #ActionBehaviorCenters #BrookwoodCommunity #ASD #ABATherapy #TexasFamilies

This week, @ActionBehavior, @TxABAPubPolicy, and @AutismSociety's public policy advocates, and several parents, testified at the Texas House Committee on Appropriations Article II hearing to advocate for a meaningful Autism Service Medicaid benefit. Special thanks to Chair @AngeliaOrrForTX, Vice Chair @DonnaHowardTX and Representatives @JeffBarryforTX , Fairly, @VentonJonesTX, Manuel, @TomOliverson, and Rose for their support. Action Behavior Centers and other ABA providers can't participate in Texas Medicaid due to inadequate rates. Without access to ABA, most children with ASD will need intensive special education and adult services, in fact 81% of children with ASD who haven't received ABA will require these services. ABA therapy is transformative, improving functional, adaptive, and social skills, and fostering independence. Texas needs to invest an additional $21 million to raise the reimbursement rate for direct one-on-one autism therapy services. This investment will improve the quality of life for children with autism and their families and save Texas money. Thanks to everyone who testified or submitted their testimony. #Autism #ABAtherapy #TexasMedicaid #advocacy @CASProviders @APBAhome @ProfoundAutism @AutismSociety @autismvotes @autismspeaks

Yesterday, we welcomed Texas Lieutenant Governor @DanPatrick to discuss @ActionBehavior Centers’ commitment to supporting children and families affected by Autism. Our @ActionBehavior Centers team highlighted the importance of early intervention in addressing behaviors and promoting communication skills for better quality of life and clinical outcomes. With many Texas families in need of medically necessary ABA therapy, the ABC team emphasized the need for an improved and sustainable Texas Medicaid Autism Services program. As leaders in ABA therapy, we expressed our desire to collaborate with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the Texas legislature and the @TexasHHSC to strengthen the Texas’ Autism Services program. Together, we can ensure that all Texas children and families have access to medically necessary supports and services. #AutismAdvocacy #ABA #ABATherapy #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #AutismAdvocates #AutismSupport #AutismAcceptance #ActionBehaviorCenters #ASD #BehaviorAnalysis #BehavioralHealth #AutismAwareness #Texas #Collaboration #EarlyIntervention

Today, Colorado’s Medicaid Provider Rate Review Advisory Committee (MPRRAC) presented its 2024 Medicaid Provider Rate Review Report to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), and addressed proposed Medicaid cuts to services including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services. Families affected by autism and ABA providers filled the hearing room, emphasizing the deep impact these cuts could have on access to care. MPRRAC Chair Kimberly Kretsch highlighted the historically low ABA reimbursement rates and the progress made in reducing wait times through 2023 recommendations. She warned that the proposed cuts would reverse these gains, disrupt access, and undermine MPRRAC’s efforts. Thank you to @SenKirkmeyer for acknowledging the need to prioritize Colorado's most vulnerable patients in the 2025 budget. Thank you to all who attended and advocated for protecting ABA services for children with autism, the JBC members @JeffBridges @ShannonBird4CO @SenKirkmeyer @EmilyForCO @JudyAmabileCO for their dedication, and the Colorado Association for Behavior Analysis for raising awareness. @autismspeaks @ProfoundAutism @CASProviders @APBAhome @ActionBehavior @autismvotes

The proposed Colorado state budget for FY 2025-26 includes a significant cut to Medicaid reimbursement for ABA services. This reduction could limit access to vital ABA services for children in Colorado with Autism. Without adequate access, these children may face delays and interruptions in necessary care, leading to potential clinical regression and long-term impacts on their well-being and that of their families. Check out COABA’s CALL TO ACTION to reach out to your local state legislators and urge them to ensure this decrease is not part of the final 2025 budget! coaba.org/colorado-pbt-reimb… Thank you to the Joint Budget Committee Members for their dedication to Colorado children and families affected by Autism. @JeffBridges @ShannonBird4CO @SenKirkmeyer @EmilyForCO Rep. Rick Taggart, @JudyAmabileCO @autismspeaks @ProfoundAutism @CASProviders @APBAhome @ActionBehavior @autismvotes

Had great meetings with Senator @JohnKavanagh_AZ and Rep. @SteveMontenegro about access to care and the AZ families we serve at @ActionBehavior centers. Their leadership is crucial for families affected by ASD. Thank you for your commitment! Looking forward to our continued work together on licensing delays and medicaid rate parity.