(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Nicole VanBuskirk walks her 6-year-old autistic son, Austin, to play in the backyard swingset, Monday, October 29, 2012. Austin works with Breanne Berg, left, who teaches an autism therapy like the one covered in the state-funded pilot, Monday, October 29, 2012. Berg is walking with Austin's younger brother, Trevor.
Carol Embry and her husband have full-time jobs with health insurance, but neither their salaries nor their policies cover the cost of the autism treatment their 5-year-old son needs.
Theyve tried other therapies. Theyve borrowed money and tapped into retirement funds.
Lottery closed on Wednesday
Oct. 31 was the last day for Utah families to apply for free treatment for autism under a Medicaid-funded pilot project. By close of business Wednesday, 390 had applied for the estimated 250 slots, but the number of families could rise because applications were being accepted online until midnight and by mail. That means the Utah Department of Health will hold a lottery to choose the winners, ranking the applications at random while ensuring wide geographic distribution. Winners will be notified the week of Nov. 12, and services are expected to start by mid-November.
"All of my sons medical professionals say this is his prescription for his health and I cannot provide that for my son no matter what I do," she said this week in frustration.
So along with hundreds of other Utahns, the Woods Cross couple threw their childs name into a lottery for free applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, paid for by a pilot program under Medicaid.
Advocates are hoping the pilot one of three will show good results and lead to broader autism therapy coverage. But some providers now fear the Medicaid pilot will fail, based on its low pay and the minimum qualifications it requires for in-home therapists.
"I just dont want to be a part of something thats going to put the care and my profession at risk," said Jeff Skibitsky, owner of Alternative Behavior Strategies. "Theres no use in providing a service thats going to be ineffective."
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Is Utah’s Medicaid autism pilot program designed to fail?