OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Nebraska businesses providing a kind of therapy helping kids with autism are under pressure, and so are parents.

A month ago the state decided to cut Medicaid reimbursement rates for ABA therapy by as much as 80%. It was costing the state a lot of money.

In 2020, Nebraska paid less than $5 million for ABA services. Last year, they paid $86 million. This cut isn’t permanent, but providers say they’re already paying a price.

ABA therapy changed Lyla O’Kane’s trajectory.

“These are consistent lifelong skills that they are teaching these kids as early intervention so they can be successful,” said her mom, Kitty O’Kane. “Like Lyla has in kindergarten... she was able to successfully be in the main classroom with the other kids.”

Therapy taught Lyla to manage her tantr

See Full Page