Thousands of families in Indiana are facing an alarming and urgent reality: the removal of essential Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) providers from the Managed Health Services (MHS) network, placing vulnerable children at risk of losing medically necessary care. A first group of providers was removed from the network on February 1, 2026, and the remaining providers are scheduled to be removed on March 1, 2026. When these final removals take effect, thousands of children across Indiana may be left without access to their current ABA providers and without immediate alternatives for continued treatment.

ABA therapy is widely recognized as a critical, evidence-based intervention for children with autism. It helps children develop communication, daily living, and safety skills while reducing behaviors that interfere with learning and independence. For many families, ABA therapy is not optional. It is essential healthcare that supports their child’s long-term development and well-being.

This sudden and staged removal of providers threatens to halt meaningful progress that children have worked months or years to achieve. The loss of continuity in care can result in regression of skills, increased behavioral challenges, and emotional distress for both children and their families.

MHS has informed families that they may pursue several alternatives: locating a provider who remains in-network, switching to another Managed Care Entity (MCE) during their next enrollment period, or filing a “just cause” grievance to request an earlier change. However, these options do not provide immediate or realistic solutions for many families. Providers who remain in-network often have extensive waitlists, sometimes lasting months or longer. Enrollment changes are restricted to specific time periods, leaving families without services in the interim. While some families have attempted to file just cause grievances, these processes can be complex, time-consuming, and do not guarantee timely restoration of care.

As a result, many children face the very real risk of losing continuity of treatment, which can lead to regression in communication, behavior, and daily living skills. The loss of trusted providers also disrupts therapeutic relationships that are foundational to effective care.

Families across Indiana are deeply concerned about the immediate and long-term impact of these disruptions. Parents are being forced to navigate uncertainty while trying to protect their children’s progress, stability, and well-being.

We urge the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) and Managed Health Services (MHS) to take immediate action to protect continuity of care by restoring access to qualified ABA providers and ensuring that children do not experience gaps in medically necessary treatment.