Applied Behavioral Analysis in the News in S. Carolina

Posted by Greg Cruey Mar 27, 2006

The South Carolina state legislature is debating a bill that would require insurers to pay for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) for autistic children, according to a recent article in The State. The issue is controversial for a number of reasons. Among them:

• The treatments are costly -- up to $100,000 per year for preschool-aged children.
• Less than half of children with autism would benefit from the treatment.
• The bill would accentuate the difference between those who have health insurance and those who don't.

But about half the children with autism who undergo ABA can often enter a general education first grade classroom on time.

The progress of the bill will be interesting to watch...