Autism treatment center opens in Mishawaka amid state cuts to ABA therapy

So, Gov. Mike Braun is taking action to limit autism therapy services as a way to save on Medicaid spending. Amid all this, UNIFI Autism Care opened its doors in Mishawaka Tuesday.

"I provide direct therapy to children with autism," said Kiley Hutton.

Hutton administers what's called applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy.

"I teach life skills, handwashing, toothbrushing," she said. "We're helping with not only academics, but life skills, social skills, play skills, communication skills. Things that might come naturally for most kids, they don't come naturally for other kids."

It's the kind of service UNIFI Autism Care, which celebrated its grand opening in Mishawaka on Tuesday, will offer. Breanne Hartley is UNIFI's president and chief clinical officer.

"ABA, applied behavior analysis, continues to be the gold standard of treatment for children with autism," Hartley said.

UNIFI is employing 70 staff members with space for up to 60 patients at a time.

"We provide behavioral health treatment, and we do that in combination with other healthcare professionals," Hartley said.

But under the Braun administration, ABA is now limited for Medicaid patients.

"Between both primary and secondary Medicaid, generally speaking, the majority of our patients will have Medicaid in some capacity," Hartley said.

As of April, autism patients are limited in the hours of ABA therapy they get per week, depending on whether they are categorized as level one, two, or three. There are also limits to a patient's lifelong eligibility for ABA, cutting them off after three years unless absolutely medically necessary.

"It's very scary, I'm worried for our children and everyone else's children," Hutton said. "This is a necessity for a lot of kids."

Providers are worried, but Hartley remains optimistic the facility, the second in the state to open, can adapt, and providers will continue to advocate for the needs of patients.

"If a child has been receiving services for several years and we see the benefit of them continuing treatment, we will continue to advocate that that treatment occurs, and really work closely with the family and their insurance provider to see the continuation of the reimbursement of therapy services," Hartley said. "So, a lot of advocacy work ahead."

Governor Braun signed an executive order in April, creating a task force to look at ways to cut ABA spending even more. That working group wraps in September, with a report to the governor with recommendations due by November 30th.