My wife Susie startled me with a question the other week as she scrolled through a WhatsApp chat group for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder.
“Hey, Michael,” she said, “did you see where your Syracuse classmate is targeting autism services for cuts?”
At first, I wasn’t sure what she meant. But her tone — somewhere between disbelief and frustration — said it all. She handed me her phone, and I scanned the messages from other parents. Alarmed parents in the group had learned that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s massive 2026 budget proposal — which aims to increase state spending by $19 billion, or 8.3% — includes one outrageous cut: It will slice state spending on Medicaid payments for a behavior therapy helpful to our children.
This news landed like a punch in the gut. It’s not every day you read that someone you once studied alongside is now proposing policies that threaten services essential to your child’s well-being.
For parents of autistic kids, the specter of their stimming or “melting down” in a store, restaurant or family gathering can be mortifying.
Stimming — repetitive behaviors like rocking, hand flapping, vocalizations or, in our oldest boy’s case, spitting — is common among autistic children and adults, often as a means of relieving stress or sensory overload.
These behaviors aren’t arbitrary; they serve a purpose. They’re coping mechanisms. But that doesn’t make them any easier to navigate in a world that’s often unkind or uninformed. A proven intervention therapy called Applied Behavior Analysis effectively helps to ameliorate or end those behaviors — and now it’s in Albany’s crosshairs.
ABA is an evidenced-based individualized therapy that rewards desired behaviors to increase their frequency, while reducing vexing conduct like tantrums or self-injury. The process improves daily living skills and furthers academic development.
The therapists who administer ABA aren’t random hires. Licensed behavior analysts and certified behavior analyst assistants must meet the State Education Department’s strict training requirements and standards. These professionals undergo rigorous preparation to help children like ours meet goals, build skills, and experience success in everyday environments — from classrooms to playgrounds to our own homes.
Fortunately for many families, including ours, private insurance covers the cost of ABA therapy.
But for needy families who rely on public health-care programs, partial Medicaid coverage for ABA only began in 2021, and full coverage didn’t start until 2023. That’s barely enough time for many families to even access the system and start services, let alone experience the full benefit.
Now, just as these families are finally beginning to receive long-overdue support, they’re facing the threat of having it yanked away. Without Medicaid coverage for ABA, low-income families will have no way to afford this essential service.
It’s a relatively tiny fraction of the state’s massive $35 billion Medicaid budget for next year, much less of the gargantuan $252 billion state budget Hochul has proposed.
Yet “New York’s first mom governor” wants to lop off $30 million over two years from a small program serving vulnerable, low-income autistic kids and their families as a cost-saving measure.
There’s no denying that Medicaid spending has ballooned — a 36% jump during Hochul’s first three years as governor. Yes, it’s on an unsustainable trajectory. But those costs aren’t being driven by ABA therapy or autism services. Let’s be honest about what’s really happening.
The chief beneficiaries of New York’s Medicaid spending are hospitals and the state’s largest health-care union, 1199 SEIU, both of which will launch seven-figure attack ads if the governor even hints at cutting the state-run health plan.
And here’s the kicker: Hochul’s spending plan hikes reimbursement rates for hospitals, nursing homes and other providers — whose workers just happen to be 1199 SEIU members — while cutting rates for autism therapists, who aren’t unionized. It doesn’t take a political analyst to see the calculus at work here.
On Feb. 7, Hochul visited Rochester for a “conversation” with mothers about her “affordability agenda,” which she’s been touting as a boon to middle-class families who have been fleeing New York’s steep taxes and high cost of living.
I know a number of low-income autism moms who’re itching to chat with Kathy and her brain trust about why her Medicaid penny-pinching must come at their expense, and that of their children.
These moms have lived the daily challenges. They’ve fought for every service, every therapist, every inch of progress. One of those mothers, Michelle P., explained to me what she’d tell Hochul about the services now on the chopping block.
“The ABA therapists have helped [my child] with stimming, elopement, meltdowns, learning to play appropriately and substituting maladaptive behaviors,” Michelle texted.
How can anyone read that and still push forward with cuts for autistic kids?
If Hochul were serious about Medicaid savings, she’d heed the latest audit from state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, which revealed that the Department of Health improperly paid $16.2 million in claims during a 6-month period.
Heck, that’s over $32 million a year in fraudulent or erroneous spending — more than enough to cover Medicaid ABA services.
Attaboy, Tommy, you’ve earned the gratitude of the autism community.
There’s plenty more fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in the state’s Medicaid system. We’re talking about layers of inefficiency and unchecked billing practices that continue year after year.
Cracking down on that would recoup hundreds of millions of dollars to pay for invaluable autism services — and still achieve significant savings. You don’t balance a budget by harming the most vulnerable. You do it by rooting out the rot at the core.
So what do you say, Governor? Are you willing to rescind a proposed cut that will only increase the burdens, anxieties and discomfort of low-income families and their autistic children?
Take it from your old college schoolmate: Don’t harm children on the autism spectrum for fear of union blowback.
Let’s Build a Brighter Tomorrow Together—Start Today!
At Golden Care Therapy, we’re committed to helping your child grow, thrive, and achieve meaningful progress. Our dedicated team of professionals works closely with families to create personalized treatment plans that are compassionate and effective. Whether your child is just beginning their journey or needs continued support, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Backed by evidence-based strategies and years of experience, we offer high-quality ABA therapy in New York tailored to your child’s unique needs. Reach out to us today—we’re here to support your family with care you can trust.
