Key facts
- Medicaid spending on autism therapy has increased fivefold since 2021.
- The rapid spending growth outpaces the rise in autism diagnoses.
- Concerns include potential overprescribing and fraudulent billing practices.
- Medicaid is recommending that states bolster their oversight of autism therapy services.
Medicaid is calling on states to strengthen their oversight of autism therapy services, citing a dramatic increase in program spending. Since 2021, expenditures on these therapies have quintupled, a growth rate that far exceeds the rise in autism diagnoses. This surge has prompted concerns within Medicaid about the potential for overprescribing of services and fraudulent billing practices. The program is therefore advising states to implement more rigorous monitoring of providers and services to ensure appropriate care and prevent financial abuse.