LIVE AT 1:30 P.M. – Nebraska health department giving update on Medicaid changes
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Nebraska health department discusses ABA services rate changes
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services CEO Steve Corsi spoke Friday. Corsi said changes will impact applied behavior analysis services, known as ABA. DHHS has held meetings with stakeholders regarding adjustments to payment rates. In 2020, Nebraska Medicaid paid $4.6 million for ABA services, compared to 2024, when it paid $85 million. The decision was not based on the state’s budget issues, Corsi says, and is not connected to the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ (“We’ve been working on getting this fixed since before the new White House administration,” he says). “This is to protect the necessary resources for families who need care for their children, that they get that care,” he says.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services CEO Steve Corsi spoke Friday about how the changes will impact applied behavior analysis services, known as ABA, while ensuring families still have support for those with autism and other developmental conditions.
He was joined by Drew Gonshorowski, director of the state’s Medicaid & Long-Term Care division, and Munroe-Meyer Institute Dean and Director Karoly Mirnics.
Corsi said Friday DHHS has received several inquiries from Nebraska families, providers and media regarding changes.
“DHHS fully understands the importance of Nebraska kids and families, and we fully understand this is an important service,” Corsi said.
DHHS has held meetings with stakeholders regarding adjustments to payment rates to remain at sustainable levels, Coris explained.
“Unfortunately, during these meetings, we’ve identified inaccurate information, some of which has come from national corporations regarding our efforts to adjust payment rates,” he said.
Nebraska payment rates for ABA services are currently the highest in the nation per the charts Corsi presented.
Gonshorowski said DHHS had recently completed a review of Nebraska Medicaid rates for ABA and observed that Nebraska’s rates are significantly higher than all 49 other states.
In 2020, Nebraska Medicaid paid $4.6 million for ABA services, compared to 2024, when it paid $85 million.
To make sure the services are sustainable, the payment rates must be adjusted, Corsi said, to be more in line with what other states pay.
Mirnics said the MMI will continue to work alongside DHHS to create evidence-based guidelines to provide the “most meaningful, most efficient services for all individuals with (Autistic Spectrum Disorders),” while safeguarding resources.
Gonshorowski gave a few examples of the rate changes for various procedures or assessments.
Like a treatment administered to a patient by a physician or other health care professional, will move to $22.72 when it was previously $36.11.
An ABA identification assessment, for example, will move from $54.17 to $38.17.
Corsi explained the decision was not based on the state’s budget issues.
“Our focus right now is to adjust these ABA rates and to get it right,” Corsi said and added the decision was not connected to the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill.’
“We’ve been working on getting this fixed since before the new White House administration,” he said. “This is to protect the necessary resources for families who need care for their children, that they get that care.”
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Digital Director Gina Dvorak contributed to this report.
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Source: https://www.wowt.com/2025/07/18/nebraska-health-department-giving-update-medicaid-changes/