Georgia Medicaid autism cuts are drawing warnings from autism care advocates. Amerigroup, the insurer covering the state's foster children through Medicaid, cut autism therapy provider reimbursement rates by 30%. The Autism Families Alliance warns 75% of Georgia clinics could close or stop serving foster children, saying the fraud crackdown's rollout now threatens their care. The alliance raised the alarm on Friday.
What the Georgia Medicaid autism cuts mean for foster families
Amerigroup covers Georgia's foster children through Medicaid, and its 30% cut applies to autism therapy providers. The alliance says many clinics cannot absorb that reduction, so as many as three in four could close or stop accepting foster children. Foster families, the group adds, often cannot simply switch their child to another insurer.
Why are fraud crackdown backers worried?
The Autism Families Alliance backed the administration's push to prosecute Medicaid fraud, saying millions in stolen funds hurt taxpayers and children who rely on those services. It now argues the rollout goes too far, urging policymakers to remove fraudsters without blocking legitimate providers. Advocates say one Georgia foster mother has already been told her nearly 3-year-old son's provider may stop treating him.
Taylor Sanders, a family advocate at the alliance, said fraud should still be prosecuted but described the current approach as using a sledgehammer where a scalpel is needed. Kelsey Bennett, another advocate, said reforms that prevent abuse are welcome, yet policies that make care harder for children with autism have gone wrong, and urged Georgia lawmakers to bring insurers and providers to the table.
