Autism Support Hit by New Restrictions Under Trump Overhaul
Recent changes to Medicaid qualifications under the Trump administration's One Big Beautiful Bill have made it harder for autism support providers to access funding and deliver services to low-income families. Providers report increasing restrictions, shorter reporting timelines, and uneven reimbursement rates across states, complicating access to critical therapies like Applied Behavior Analysis. Advocacy groups are urging families to engage in grassroots efforts to influence local policymakers.
- ▪The Trump administration's One Big Beautiful Bill led to stricter Medicaid qualification rules affecting access to autism support services.
- ▪Around 70 million low-income Americans relied on Medicaid for healthcare coverage as of June 2025, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
- ▪Autism support providers like Golden Steps ABA face tighter insurance reporting deadlines and varying state reimbursement rates, impacting service availability.
- ▪State-level restrictions, such as Oklahoma's 50-mile border rule, limit families' access to out-of-state autism therapy.
- ▪Shortages of Board Certified Behavior Analysts in certain states are exacerbated by disparities in compensation across state lines.
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By Peter AitkenPolitics Weekend EditorShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Changes to insurance qualifications for certain types of healthcare by the Trump administration have made it more difficult for providers looking to help families learn to live with autism to provide their services to those most in need, an advocacy group told Newsweek.President Donald Trump returned to office last year on a promise to cut costs at the federal level, pushing through the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) in order to enact wholesale changes to various departments and agencies, including qualifications for Medicaid, which many low-income families rely on.
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