1/29/2025
Dear Ms. Waldman,
We are writing in response to your article, “UnitedHealth is strategically limiting access to critical treatment for kids with autism.” Thank you for raising awareness of this important issue. According to the federal government, applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a protected benefit and legislators at state level have passed laws mandating insurance companies to cover services for children with autism. However, as you mention in your article, some insurance companies are now limiting children’s access to this benefit. Applied behaviour analysis is among the few evidence-based approaches in the treatment of autism in a pool of more than 500 marketed treatments. Interventions based on ABA may be needed throughout an autistic individual’s life to support not only the management of challenging behaviors but also the acquisition of new skills including communication, learning and social skills. When implemented intensively, especially in early life, ABA is likely to produce gains that benefit not only the child and their family but also other stakeholders such as the state as interventions done during childhood may reduce the need for special services later in life leading to huge cost savings throughout the person’s life. We are grateful for you sharing this story. Voices like yours are needed in ensuring businesses do not deny the nation’s most vulnerable the opportunity to receive these much needed services
Sincerely,
Cecilia Wayua, MSc
Erin Leif, PhD, BCBA-D
The Association for Science in Autism Treatment
