RE: Texas Home Living Waiver

[Guest guest]

What is the Texas home living waiver? Liz. This is interesting to me

because my school district says Texas does not recognize BCBA¹s as any type

of needed licenses or certification ­ like psychologists or social workers.

On 6/11/04 9:35 PM, " Singleton " <cmtssingleton@...> wrote:

> There is one thing the ARC report DIDN'T mention about the Texas Home Living

> waiver. Anyone who is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst will be an

> approved service providers under this program, whereas they aren't yet

> under any other waiver program. That means is someone opts for the Texas

> Home Living waiver, they could get ABA from a BCBA paid for under that

> waiver. That means the overseeing agency can contract with a BCBA program

> that's not run by a pyschologist to provide ABA therapy.

>

> Because BCBAs were approved to be service providers in this waiver, the

> other Medicaid waiver programs will be amended over the course of time to

> include BCBAs as service providers as well. This is a big deal for those

> trying to get ABA services in Texas and BCBAs trying to get paid by the

> state.

>

>

>

>

>

> Texas Autism Advocacy

>

>

> Unlocking Autism

> www.UnlockingAutism.org

>

> Autism-Awareness-Action

> Worldwide internet group for parents who have a

> child with AUTISM.

>

> SeekingJoyinDisability - Prayer support for those touched by Disability:

> SeekingJoyinDisability/

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

The Texas Home Living pogram is a new Medicaid waiver that was finally

approved at the federal level just a couple of weeks ago--so until it got

its finally federal approval, Texas didn't recognize BCBAs who didn't have

another license like psychologist or social worker. Now Texas does. And

most likely the other Medicaid waiver programs will be amended to allow

people who are JUST BCBAs to be approved services providers as well. This

is also a big deal because my insurance company wouldn't pay for my son's

ABA for the same reason--Texas didn't pay BCBAs under Medicaid. (Oh, by the

way, for those of you who have this idea that private insurance makes it's

own choices about what to pay. . .Know that private insurances bases

EVERYTHING they pay on what the state governments pay under Medicaid. So

essentially the government is controlling or directing the insurance

companies.)

The problem is that Medicaid says it will only pay for services given by a

" licensed practioner of the healing arts. " Because there are so few BCBAs,

it costs way too much to set up a state licensing board for them. To run

such a board costs over $100,000. There's only 31 BCBAs in Texas right now.

That means their annual license fee would cost over $30,000! It'll happen

one day, but just not right now.

There is a lot more flexibility in the waiver programs, so when MHMR was

being refunded into a Medicaid waiver program two years ago, a provision was

slipped in that listed BCBAs as accepted service providers. It survived the

public comment process and was not removed at the federal level either.

It's not a perfect program, as the ARC report pointed out, but for people

who want ABA therapy it's ok. It's just that $10,000 cap won't pay the

costs for a full program.

Re: Texas Home Living Waiver

What is the Texas home living waiver? Liz. This is interesting to me

because my school district says Texas does not recognize BCBA¹s as any type

of needed licenses or certification ­ like psychologists or social workers.

On 6/11/04 9:35 PM, " Singleton " <cmtssingleton@...> wrote:

> There is one thing the ARC report DIDN'T mention about the Texas Home

Living

> waiver. Anyone who is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst will be an

> approved service providers under this program, whereas they aren't yet

> under any other waiver program. That means is someone opts for the Texas

> Home Living waiver, they could get ABA from a BCBA paid for under that

> waiver. That means the overseeing agency can contract with a BCBA program

> that's not run by a pyschologist to provide ABA therapy.

>

> Because BCBAs were approved to be service providers in this waiver, the

> other Medicaid waiver programs will be amended over the course of time to

> include BCBAs as service providers as well. This is a big deal for those

> trying to get ABA services in Texas and BCBAs trying to get paid by the

> state.

>

>

>

>

>

> Texas Autism Advocacy

>

>

> Unlocking Autism

> www.UnlockingAutism.org

>

> Autism-Awareness-Action

> Worldwide internet group for parents who have a

> child with AUTISM.

>

> SeekingJoyinDisability - Prayer support for those touched by Disability:

> SeekingJoyinDisability/

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Mara--

To get in immediately, your child must currently be receiving services from

MHMR that are paid for by general revenue funds. The next group of folks

who can get into this program are folks who are at the top of the HCS

waiting list. They'll be able offered a Tx Home Living slot in lieu of

their HCS slot some time this year. After that, I don't know. The best

thing is to ask your local MHMR authority. However, since your child is 21

months, she/he should be receiving services under ECI. I have heard of an

ECI provider in the Houston area doing ABA therapy, but I have no idea which

one it was or how many hours a week it was.

In the meantime, you may want to contact Carol Sloan cysloan@...

to get on the FEAT-Houston e-mail list. We co-sponsor a series of

inexpensive, hands-on parent trainings on a monthly basis. They are usually

filled to capacity. The more you know about ABA theory and practice, the

more you will be able to do with your child.

Re: Texas Home Living Waiver

What is the Texas home living waiver? Liz. This is interesting to me

because my school district says Texas does not recognize BCBA¹s as any type

of needed licenses or certification & shy; like psychologists or social

workers.

On 6/11/04 9:35 PM, " Singleton " <cmtssingleton@...> wrote:

> There is one thing the ARC report DIDN'T mention about the Texas Home

Living

> waiver. Anyone who is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst will be an

> approved service providers under this program, whereas they aren't yet

> under any other waiver program. That means is someone opts for the Texas

> Home Living waiver, they could get ABA from a BCBA paid for under that

> waiver. That means the overseeing agency can contract with a BCBA program

> that's not run by a pyschologist to provide ABA therapy.

>

> Because BCBAs were approved to be service providers in this waiver, the

> other Medicaid waiver programs will be amended over the course of time to

> include BCBAs as service providers as well. This is a big deal for those

> trying to get ABA services in Texas and BCBAs trying to get paid by the

> state.

>

>

>

>

>

> Texas Autism Advocacy

>

>

> Unlocking Autism

> www.UnlockingAutism.org

>

> Autism-Awareness-Action

> Worldwide internet group for parents who have a

> child with AUTISM.

>

> SeekingJoyinDisability - Prayer support for those touched by Disability:

> SeekingJoyinDisability/

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Mara--

To get in immediately, your child must currently be receiving services from

MHMR that are paid for by general revenue funds. The next group of folks

who can get into this program are folks who are at the top of the HCS

waiting list. They'll be able offered a Tx Home Living slot in lieu of

their HCS slot some time this year. After that, I don't know. The best

thing is to ask your local MHMR authority. However, since your child is 21

months, she/he should be receiving services under ECI. I have heard of an

ECI provider in the Houston area doing ABA therapy, but I have no idea which

one it was or how many hours a week it was.

In the meantime, you may want to contact Carol Sloan cysloan@...

to get on the FEAT-Houston e-mail list. We co-sponsor a series of

inexpensive, hands-on parent trainings on a monthly basis. They are usually

filled to capacity. The more you know about ABA theory and practice, the

more you will be able to do with your child.

Re: Texas Home Living Waiver

What is the Texas home living waiver? Liz. This is interesting to me

because my school district says Texas does not recognize BCBA¹s as any type

of needed licenses or certification & shy; like psychologists or social

workers.

On 6/11/04 9:35 PM, " Singleton " <cmtssingleton@...> wrote:

> There is one thing the ARC report DIDN'T mention about the Texas Home

Living

> waiver. Anyone who is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst will be an

> approved service providers under this program, whereas they aren't yet

> under any other waiver program. That means is someone opts for the Texas

> Home Living waiver, they could get ABA from a BCBA paid for under that

> waiver. That means the overseeing agency can contract with a BCBA program

> that's not run by a pyschologist to provide ABA therapy.

>

> Because BCBAs were approved to be service providers in this waiver, the

> other Medicaid waiver programs will be amended over the course of time to

> include BCBAs as service providers as well. This is a big deal for those

> trying to get ABA services in Texas and BCBAs trying to get paid by the

> state.

>

>

>

>

>

> Texas Autism Advocacy

>

>

> Unlocking Autism

> www.UnlockingAutism.org

>

> Autism-Awareness-Action

> Worldwide internet group for parents who have a

> child with AUTISM.

>

> SeekingJoyinDisability - Prayer support for those touched by Disability:

> SeekingJoyinDisability/

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

-

How do you get into this medicaid waiver program???? I have a 21 month old who

was recently diagnosed as ASD and we are going broke trying to fund his program.

We checked into SSI, but do not qualify. Is there a waiting list for this

program. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much-

Mara

Singleton <cmtssingleton@...> wrote:

The Texas Home Living pogram is a new Medicaid waiver that was finally

approved at the federal level just a couple of weeks ago--so until it got

its finally federal approval, Texas didn't recognize BCBAs who didn't have

another license like psychologist or social worker. Now Texas does. And

most likely the other Medicaid waiver programs will be amended to allow

people who are JUST BCBAs to be approved services providers as well. This

is also a big deal because my insurance company wouldn't pay for my son's

ABA for the same reason--Texas didn't pay BCBAs under Medicaid. (Oh, by the

way, for those of you who have this idea that private insurance makes it's

own choices about what to pay. . .Know that private insurances bases

EVERYTHING they pay on what the state governments pay under Medicaid. So

essentially the government is controlling or directing the insurance

companies.)

The problem is that Medicaid says it will only pay for services given by a

" licensed practioner of the healing arts. " Because there are so few BCBAs,

it costs way too much to set up a state licensing board for them. To run

such a board costs over $100,000. There's only 31 BCBAs in Texas right now.

That means their annual license fee would cost over $30,000! It'll happen

one day, but just not right now.

There is a lot more flexibility in the waiver programs, so when MHMR was

being refunded into a Medicaid waiver program two years ago, a provision was

slipped in that listed BCBAs as accepted service providers. It survived the

public comment process and was not removed at the federal level either.

It's not a perfect program, as the ARC report pointed out, but for people

who want ABA therapy it's ok. It's just that $10,000 cap won't pay the

costs for a full program.

Re: Texas Home Living Waiver

What is the Texas home living waiver? Liz. This is interesting to me

because my school district says Texas does not recognize BCBA¹s as any type

of needed licenses or certification & shy; like psychologists or social workers.

On 6/11/04 9:35 PM, " Singleton " <cmtssingleton@...> wrote:

> There is one thing the ARC report DIDN'T mention about the Texas Home

Living

> waiver. Anyone who is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst will be an

> approved service providers under this program, whereas they aren't yet

> under any other waiver program. That means is someone opts for the Texas

> Home Living waiver, they could get ABA from a BCBA paid for under that

> waiver. That means the overseeing agency can contract with a BCBA program

> that's not run by a pyschologist to provide ABA therapy.

>

> Because BCBAs were approved to be service providers in this waiver, the

> other Medicaid waiver programs will be amended over the course of time to

> include BCBAs as service providers as well. This is a big deal for those

> trying to get ABA services in Texas and BCBAs trying to get paid by the

> state.

>

>

>

>

>

> Texas Autism Advocacy

>

>

> Unlocking Autism

> www.UnlockingAutism.org

>

> Autism-Awareness-Action

> Worldwide internet group for parents who have a

> child with AUTISM.

>

> SeekingJoyinDisability - Prayer support for those touched by Disability:

> SeekingJoyinDisability/

>

>

>

>

>