WSR 21-04-025
HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
[Filed January 25, 2021, 4:03 p.m.]
NOTICE
Title or Subject: Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) 21-0010 Applied Behavioral Analysis Services.
Effective Date: [None supplied by the agency.]
Description: The health care authority (HCA) intends to submit SPA 21-0010 to comply with a December 11, 2020, Thurston County Superior Court order in the case of J.C., et al v. Washington State Health Care Authority. The court order instructs HCA to cover medically necessary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to treat autism spectrum disorder for medicaid managed care organization clients over the age of twenty. Currently the medicaid state plan limits ABA services to clients in the early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment program, which is limited to clients age twenty and younger; SPA 21-0010 is being submitted to remove that limitation.
HCA anticipates SPA 21-0010 will increase payments/expenditures between $300,000 and $400,000 in state fiscal year 2021.
HCA is in the process of developing the SPA. HCA would appreciate any input or concerns regarding this SPA. To request a copy of the SPA when it becomes available or submit comments, you may contact the people named below (please note that all comments are subject to public review and disclosure, as are the names of those who comment).
Contact Annette Schuffenhauer, Legal Services, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-1254, TRS 711, email annette.schuffenhauer@hca.wa.gov.