Recent estimates suggest there are around 52,000 individuals in Nevada on the autism spectrum. Many of these individuals are still children who greatly benefit from the services and treatment programs offered by facilities like the Nevada Autism Center.
For many families, these services are only accessible thanks to Medicaid funding.
Experts estimate that around 37 million children in the United States rely on Medicaid for health care, therapy, and other services. For most disabled children, Medicaid is the only option they have available to be able to afford their needs.
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, for instance, is provided to for patients in financial need who have Medicaid benefits. Over time, ABA therapy helps autistic individuals regulate their emotions more effectively, develop newfound skills, and engage in the world in a new, more autonomous way.
Medicaid also helps fund individualized education plans (IEP) for autistic youth attending public school in Nevada. These services often include occupational and speech therapy. These fundamental therapies make a huge difference in the way young autistic Nevada residents are able to communicate with others and have their needs met.
With the recent passage of the Big Beautiful Bill, many Nevada residents are worried that new budget cuts could impact Medicare funding for these essential services. Unfortunately, Nevada has a rocky recent history when it comes to supporting youth with behavioral health disabilities. In 2022, a Department of Justice report discovered that Nevada state was violating federal law by failing to provide the right services to these individuals and instead relying too heavily on institutional settings. With the potential budget cuts, Nevada families worry things may get even worse if they have to rely on the state for help.
In a recent hearing, Democratic Representative Susie Lee explained that Nevada state will lose an estimated $590 in federal Medicaid funding. Unfortunately, these cuts could put 114,500 patients at risk of completely losing their coverage benefits. It could also put state funded programs, like individualized education plans, at risk.
How to Help Your Autistic Loved One
If you currently have a young, autistic loved one in Nevada, then you can continue to use your Medicaid benefits for coverage until you’re informed about any potential changes to your child’s policy. Hopefully, your child’s policy won’t change at all.
In the meantime, our center can provide effective ABA therapy, one-on-one guidance, summer camps, community support, and school readiness programs for your family. The main goal of our therapy and treatment is to empower your child to learn new skills, build confidence, and empower them to thrive. Ultimately, we want your child to feel comfortable learning at their own pace because this will help them build independence and autonomy.
Are you ready to learn more about our program? Reach out to one of our agents now with your questions on line (702) 660-2005. You can also get started on the online enrollment process if you’re ready to get your child’s treatment started as soon as possible.
