No Merry Christmas

Texas officials should block Medicaid cuts that affect disabled children

The Texas Legislature has an early Christmas “gift” for the state’s disabled children who depend on Medicaid for their therapy.

Cuts. Big cuts.

Last year lawmakers decided to trim $350 million from Medicaid reimbursements over two years. A lawsuit to block the cuts was turned down by the state Supreme Court. And now the cuts are expected to go into effect next week.

Among the 60,000 children affected are those who need what the state itself calls “the most recommended, evidence-based treatment” for those with autism-spectrum disorders—Applied Behavioral Analysis.

Therapists say the treatment requires up to 20 hours per week and can take several years to be effective. Under the new rules Texas Medicaid will pay for 30 hours a month for a maximum of six months.

Texas is home to an estimated 160,000 people with autism. Many have benefited from the treatment when the state offered much more comprehensive coverage.

That’s just one example. Cuts will also affect therapy for children with a wide variety of conditions. Speech, physical and occupational therapy reimbursements will sliced to the bone.

But there is hope. Texas House Speaker Joe Straus did concede late last month that “maybe” the cuts went too far and said the House would work on reversing the cuts that affected disabled children. We can only hope. But when?

Should these cuts go into effect next week, tens of thousands of children— including many in Texarkana—will be without the help they need. Their parents can’t afford to step up. So what will they do until the Legislature get around to working on it?

This should be a priority and the governor, lieutenant governor and House and Senate leaders should get to work immediately, today, and block these cuts.

This is the Christmas season. A time when we are supposed to look out for each other.

In that spirit, Texas officials should be looking out for the most vulnerable among us—our disabled children.