Currently, in NYS there is only one form of treatment (ABA, applied behavioral analysis) for infants, children, and young adults with developmental delays including Autism (ASD) that is recommended by NYS and  covered by Medicaid. The NYS DIRFloortime coalition would like to introduce DIRFloortime as an intervention that has been proven to be more cost effective and client centered. 

There have been multiple randomized-controlled studies published since 2011 identifying statistically significant improvement in children with autism who used DIRFloortime versus traditional behavioral approaches. These studies also showed the effectiveness of addressing the caregiver (Casenheiser et. al., 2011; Solomon, et. al., 2014) and specific skill improvement including turn taking, two way communication, understanding cause and effect, and emotional thinking (Lal and Chhabria, 2013). DIRFloortime can provide less hours with greater outcomes by coaching families and caretakers, therefore driving down the out-of- pocket cost from NYS. This is about giving families choices. We are missing a benefit for New Yorkers that New Jersey has just addressed.

Please vote to have the NYS Medicaid policy amended.