MassHealth has heard concern from advocates and families about individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who receive ABA prior to turning 21 and then no longer have access to the services once they turn 21.
Families and advocates have noted that some individuals with ASD struggle during the transition period between leaving school and enrolling in a day program. Additionally, when individuals with ASD attend a day program, day programs do not always have staff equipped to care for individuals with ASD.
The purpose of this RFI is to solicit input from Individuals diagnosed with ASD, Families or Caregivers, and advocates, day program providers, ABA Providers and respective subject matter experts (SMEs) in the ASD and ABA field about the following areas:
- From your perspective, what are some of the unmet physical and behavioral needs/supports of youth diagnosed with ASD that are transitioning out of the school system?
- What is needed to best meet the needs of individuals with ASD who are transitioning out of the school system to ensure they maintain their health, wellness, and quality of life when they cannot attend a day program?
- What additional support is needed to meet the needs of individuals with ASD who are turning 21 and transitioning from the school system to a day program or other community supports?
- Are there adequate existing resources within day programs to provide support to individuals with ASD and to provide behavioral supports?
- Is the following model feasible, needed, and would it provide adequate support to individuals with ASD who are transitioning into a day program? MassHealth would cover time limited medically necessary ABA services for MassHealth members with ASD transitioning from a school setting into a day program. Key supports may include developing a behavioral intervention plan and training day program staff.
