03/08/2025
Attention Medicaid families! Please see the email from Washington ABA.
Urgent: Protect ABA Services—Act Now!
Dear Valued WABA Member and ABA Community,
The future of ABA services in Washington is under serious threat.
Proposed Medicaid reimbursement rate cuts by the State and harmful credentialing delays from the Health Care Authority (HCA) will create devastating consequences for children and families with autism and other developmental disabilities.
As a member of the Washington Association for Behavior Analysis (WABA), we need your voice to urge legislators to:
Fully fund ABA reimbursement rates and reject budget cuts that would make it impossible for providers to sustain services.
Hold HCA accountable for excessive credentialing delays for Certified Behavior Technicians (CBTs) and Licensed Assistant Behavior Analysts (LABAs), which prevent workers from entering the field, force providers to shut down positions, and delay critical ABA access for vulnerable Medicaid patients.
Without immediate action, businesses will struggle to operate, workers will leave the profession, and families will experience even longer wait times for critical services.
Reference: Governor’s Proposed 2025-2027 Budget (P. 58): 25-27FergusonFeb25RecSums.pdf (wa.gov)
How You Can Help
Email your legislators today—copy and paste the message below. Click here and use your home and business address to contact your legislators.
Forward this email to families impacted by ABA access issues. Their voices matter & can help significantly! We’ve included an additional message they can use to contact their legislators.
***TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE - TAKE LESS THAN 10 MINUTES TO COMPLETE TODAY!
STATE BUDGETS ARE BEING DECIDED NOW!***
Copy-and-Paste Message for ABA Providers & Professionals:
Find your local Legislator Here & Leave a Message on their "Contact Us" Page:
Subject: Urgent: Protect ABA Services for Vulnerable Families in Washington
Dear [Legislator’s Name],
I am writing to urge you to protect ABA services in Washington by fully funding Medicaid reimbursement rates and addressing HCA’s harmful credentialing delays.
Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Cuts: Cutting ABA reimbursement rates will reduce access to care for vulnerable children and families with autism and developmental disabilities. Providers already face financial strain, and further cuts will make it impossible to continue offering services.
WA State ABA Medicaid reimbursement rates are some of the lowest in the country, especially considering our cost of living.
Our first increase to rates ever occurred only last year in December 2024 - and it is still well below the necessary rates to remain sustainable to provide the service.
HCA’s Credentialing Delays: HCA is unfairly requiring credentialing for entry-level staff and mid-level providers, which does not occur for other fields nor is it standard for any commercial plans. Certified Behavior Technicians (CBTs) and Licensed Assistant Behavior Analysts (LABAs) face excessive delays up to several months long before they can work, especially for entry-level positions. These delays mean fewer providers, longer waitlists for families, and an exodus of workers to other industries. Businesses cannot survive months of waiting before they can bill for new hires, and families cannot afford these additional delays.
I urge you to:
Reject any budget cuts to Medicaid ABA reimbursement rates.
Demand accountability from HCA to fix their credentialing process and immediately eliminate unnecessary delays.
Without action, thousands of Washington families will lose access to vital ABA services. Please prioritize these issues to protect vulnerable children and families.
Sincerely,
[Your Name, Credentials]
[Your Contact Information]
[Your Organization, if applicable]
Copy-and-Paste Message for Families Impacted by ABA Delays & Barriers
Find your local Legislator Here & Leave a Message on their "Contact Us" Page:
Subject: My Child Needs ABA Services—Please Help!
Dear [Legislator’s Name],
As a parent [or guardian] of a child with autism [or other developmental disability], I am deeply concerned about the state’s proposed Medicaid reimbursement rate cuts and the harmful delays in credentialing new ABA providers.
Cutting ABA reimbursement rates will make it harder for families like mine to access life-changing therapy. Many providers are already struggling to stay open, and further cuts will leave children without the care they desperately need.
HCA’s credentialing delays mean fewer therapists available to work with our children. Families like mine are being told we must wait months—even years—for services because there are not enough credentialed providers.
ABA therapy has been critical for my child’s development, and delays in care only make progress harder.
I urge you to:
Protect full funding for ABA Medicaid reimbursement rates.
Require HCA to fix their credentialing process so that families like mine are not left waiting endlessly for services.
Please stand up for children with autism and developmental disabilities in Washington. Our families need your support!
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
[Your City, WA]
Every email makes a difference!
Contact your legislators today and forward this message to families impacted by
ABA access issues.
Together, we can fight for the services Washington families and providers depend on.
Thank you for your help in advocacy!
Carla-Marie Myers, MA, BCBA, LBA
Washington Association for Behavior Analysis
Public Policy Committee Chair
Member at Large, Executive Committee
