New York Medicaid Cut ABA Technician Pay to $9.63: What Families Should Do Now

Updated Oct 26, 2026

Since Oct 1, 2026, New York Medicaid has paid $9.63 for each 15 minutes of one-to-one ABA therapy delivered by a behavior technician. That's half of what it paid in early 2025. The cut applies to fee-for-service Medicaid, so if your child is on a Medicaid managed care plan, ask your provider and your plan whether your rate has changed (NYSABA; Direct Support News).

The cut doesn't take away your child's right to ABA, and medically necessary care is still covered. What it changes is how much providers get paid for the hours most children spend with a therapist, and that can affect whether your clinic can keep staff, keep taking Medicaid, or add new families. Here's what changed and what to do about it.

What changed on Oct 1

ABA is billed in 15-minute units under different codes. The code that changed is CPT 97153, which covers one-to-one treatment delivered by a behavior technician working under a licensed behavior analyst. Most of the weekly hours in a typical ABA plan fall under this code (Acuity).

Here's how New York's fee-for-service rate for that code has changed over the last year (Direct Support News):

The newest rate works out to $38.52 an hour. The state's August 2026 Medicaid Update says the change was authorized by the 2026-2027 state budget (NYSABA).

Some ABA services didn't change. Assessments, protocol changes by the supervising analyst, and parent training (family guidance) still pay $19.26 per unit (Direct Support News). The Department of Health told Acuity that the hourly rate for licensed practitioners is still above $77 (Acuity).

Every ABA code on New York's fee schedule

The state's own fee schedule on eMedNY, dated Oct 1, 2026, lists what fee-for-service Medicaid pays for each ABA code. Every rate is per 15-minute unit. 97153 is the only one-on-one code that pays less than $19.26.

eMedNY only posts the current schedule. The earlier rates in the last column come from Direct Support News, and we left a cell as not confirmed when no source gave the old rate for that code.

Key dates from state filings

• Sept 24, 2025: the state published a notice in the State Register proposing the first technician cut, effective Oct 1, 2025. It estimated the cut would save $1.3 million in the 2025-26 state fiscal year (State Plan Amendment 25-0061).

• The state later told federal regulators it "did not receive any comment" on that notice (SPA 25-0061).

• Dec 31, 2025: New York sent that amendment to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, estimating a $1,930,500 cut in federal spending for October 2025 through September 2026 (SPA 25-0061).

• August 2026: the state's Medicaid Update announced the $9.63 rate and said the 2026-2027 budget authorized it (NYS Medicaid Update, August 2026).

• Oct 1, 2026: the $9.63 rate took effect for services on or after that date (NYS Medicaid Update).

There are a few things we couldn't confirm. We haven't found a State Register notice or comment deadline for the October 2026 cut, the state hasn't published how many providers or children are affected, and we found no formal appeal process for a fee schedule change. For fee-for-service policy questions, the state lists the Office of Health Insurance Programs at (518) 473-2160 or FFSMedicaidPolicy@health.ny.gov. Comments on state plan amendments go to spa-inquiries@health.ny.gov (SPA 25-0061).

Does this affect your child?

It depends on how your child's ABA is paid for.

• Fee-for-service Medicaid: this is the rate your provider now gets for technician hours.

• Medicaid managed care plan: the notice doesn't cover managed care. The Department of Health said plans negotiate their own rates with their providers, and it didn't say whether or when plans will move to $9.63 (Acuity; ABAWiser).

• Private insurance: this Medicaid notice doesn't set private insurance rates.

If you aren't sure which kind of coverage you have, look at your child's Medicaid card. A managed care card usually names the plan. You can also ask your provider's billing office, which will know.

Why providers are pulling back

Behavior technicians deliver most ABA hours, and the rate pays their wages along with supervision, training, and running a clinic. At $9.63 per unit, providers say the numbers stop working.

• The Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP) says New York now has the lowest published Medicaid rate for one-to-one ABA in the country (WRVO). Before Oct 1, the lowest rate among the states tracked by MediRate was West Virginia's $9.90 (Acuity).

• In a CASP and NYSABA survey, nearly three-quarters of providers said they would leave Medicaid after the April cut. Early results from a newer survey put the share at 97% (Acuity). These are survey answers about plans, not a count of clinics that have actually left.

• Autism Learning Partners stopped taking new New York Medicaid patients in April (Acuity).

• Providers warn of staff cuts and gaps in care for children (WRVO).

CASP has asked Gov. Kathy Hochul's office and the state Medicaid director to reconsider. A Department of Health spokesperson said the state is still committed to access to medically necessary care (Direct Support News).

New York isn't the only state making cuts. In Georgia, the Medicaid plan for children in foster care cut ABA pay by 30% on Sept 1 (Direct Support News).

Questions to ask your current ABA provider

You don't have to wait for a letter. A short call or email to your clinic director or your child's BCBA can save you weeks of guessing. Ask:

1. Are you still taking my child's Medicaid plan, and do you expect that to change in the next few months?

2. Will my child's weekly hours stay the same?

3. Will my child keep the same technician? Do you expect staff to leave?

4. Are you still adding new Medicaid families, or is there a waitlist?

5. If you stop taking our plan, how much notice will you give us, and will you help us move to another provider?

6. Can my child's treatment plan, progress notes, and most recent assessment be ready to send if we need to switch?

Write down the answers and the date. If things change later, a record helps when you talk to your plan or look for a new provider.

If you lose your provider: your options

Losing an ABA provider is hard, especially after your child has bonded with their therapist. Here are some places to look.

Ask your Medicaid plan for in-network providers. If you're on a managed care plan, call member services and ask for a list of ABA providers taking new patients. Plans negotiate their own rates, so a provider that has dropped fee-for-service Medicaid may still be in your plan's network.

Look at in-home and center-based options. Many ABA providers offer both. An in-home provider can be a good option when the nearest clinic is full or too far away.

Check private insurance if your family has it. If a parent has an employer health plan, ask HR or the insurer whether it covers ABA. Coverage rules vary, especially for self-funded employer plans, so get the answer in writing.

Ask about related services. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, and school-based services through your child's IEP won't replace ABA. They can help keep your child's progress going while you wait. See our IEP guide for how to raise this at a school meeting.

Get on more than one waitlist. Adding your child to several lists costs nothing, and you can turn down a spot later.

How to find New York ABA providers that take Medicaid

Our New York ABA therapy directory lists providers across the state with their settings, ages served, and insurance details. You can also browse New York therapy providers or read our guide to choosing an autism therapy center.

If you'd rather not call around, get matched with New York ABA providers and tell us your child's age, where you live, and how you plan to pay. We'll send you a short list of providers that serve your area and take your coverage. It's free and there's no obligation. To get a sense of what ABA costs, try our ABA therapy cost tool.

When you call a provider, ask "Are you accepting new patients on [your plan name] right now?" instead of "Do you take Medicaid?" Listings can change faster than any directory, so it's best to confirm directly.

FAQ

What does New York Medicaid pay for ABA now?

For one-to-one ABA delivered by a technician (CPT 97153), New York fee-for-service Medicaid pays $9.63 per 15-minute unit, or $38.52 an hour, as of Oct 1, 2026. It paid $14.45 starting April 1, 2026 and $16.85 starting Oct 1, 2025 (Direct Support News).

Did New York cut every ABA service?

No. Assessment, protocol changes, and family guidance codes still pay $19.26 per unit. The Oct 1 cut applied only to technician-delivered treatment (Direct Support News).

Is my child still covered for ABA under Medicaid?

Yes. The change affects what providers are paid, not whether ABA is covered. The state says it remains committed to access to medically necessary care (Direct Support News). The practical risk is fewer providers or longer waits.

Does the cut apply to Medicaid managed care plans?

The notice covers fee-for-service Medicaid only. The Department of Health said managed care plans negotiate their own rates and didn't give a date for them (Acuity). Ask your plan directly.

What should I do if my ABA provider stops taking Medicaid?

Ask for written notice, copies of your child's treatment plan and recent assessment, and help with the move to another provider. Then call your plan for in-network options and get on several waitlists. You can also get matched with New York ABA providers for a free shortlist.

Could the rate change again?

Possibly. Providers have asked the governor's office to reconsider (Direct Support News). We'll update this page if the rate changes.

This article is general information for families. It isn't legal, medical, or billing advice. Confirm coverage and rates with your Medicaid plan, eMedNY, or your provider before making decisions about your child's care.