See Q & A: Changes in WI's Medicaid-Funded Autism Program
Description of Services under Waiver
Applicable Section of MA Waivers Manual
Individual Service Plan Form
Update: Intensive In-Home Autism Services
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Significant changes have been made in WI's Medicaid-funded Autism Program.
See Q & A: Changes in WI's Medicaid-Funded Autism Program
Description of Services under Waiver
Applicable Section of MA Waivers Manual
Individual Service Plan Form
Update: Intensive In-Home Autism Services
In July 2000, ASW sent the following letter and survey questions to MA in-home autism treatment providers serving children with autism in Wisconsin. We received responses from the agencies/individuals listed below (click on the name to read their responses). Parents of children with autism often ask these questions about providers. The information is posted here to make the information accessible to parents. We hope that this information will help both parents and providers to find the right match. Whenever choosing a therapy for a child, be sure to not only check out the agency/individual, but also talk to other parents who have tried the particular treatment/therapy. Wisconsin chapters of ASA are a good source for contacting parents.
Information provided by the Autism Society of Wisconsin is for information purposes only. You are responsible for the choice of any treatment or therapy option or service provider. Reference to any treatment or therapy option or to any program, service or treatment provider is not an endorsement by ASW of the treatment or therapy option, program, service or provider. You should investigate alternative that may be appropriate for a specific individual. ASW assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided by ASW.
A few years ago, when the Bureau of Health Care Financing approved the coverage of intensive in-home treatment for autism, there was one provider in the state of Wisconsin; now there are 14! Parents of newly-diagnosed children with autism are asking our chapter presidents questions about providers, and in some cases, we don't know the answers. In response to this problem, we have decided to gather from you, the providers, some basic information about your organization and services. When we get your responses, we will post them on the ASW website so that they are very accessible to parents. We hope that this project will help both parents and providers to find the right match.
The Autism Society of Wisconsin is requesting that you cooperate by answering the questions in a timely manner, so that we have time to get the information on the web site by the beginning of the school year. Please keep your answers to the questions brief, clear, and to the point. We appreciate the time and effort that you will put into your answers. After the information is on the website, we will ask you to keep us updated on any changes in your programs and policies.
QUESTIONS FOR IN-HOME AUTISM TREATMENT PROVIDERS
Note: attach pages with further explanations if additional space needed
Contact information:
A. Therapy:
1. How would you characterize your therapeutic approach?
2. How do you work with children who are nonverbal?
3. How do you accommodate the child's sensory defensiveness?
4. How do you deal with a child's aggressive behavior?
5. What services are offered in addition to the in-home therapy (i.e., social skills groups, speech therapy, etc.)? Are these services also covered by Medicaid?
B. Entering and Exiting the program:
1. Do you accept all children under the current Medicaid age limit who apply? If not, what are your entrance requirements, such as age or IQ?
2. What testing do you require initially?
3. Under what circumstances will you accept testing by other agencies, such as schools or private therapists?
4. What are the current out-of pocket expenses that a parent must pay for the entrance testing?
5. Can parents arrange to have these expenses spread out over a longer time period?
6. How is the number of therapy hours determined?
7. Do you require that the child may not be in any other educational program when he begins therapy? If so, for how long?
8. How is a child's progress evaluated, and how often is this done?
9. What are your criteria for a child exiting the program?
10. Under what circumstances can a child be dismissed from your program?
Therapists:
1. What are the minimum educational requirements for line therapists?
2. What kind of training are the line therapists given? Who provides the training and what are their qualifications?
3. What should parents do if they have a complaint about a line or senior therapist?
Parents:
1. What kind of training is given to parents and other family members? How much training is provided?
2. Must one parent be in the home during therapy sessions? What alternate arrangements are acceptable?
3. What, if any, support services, such as respite or counseling, are offered to families by your organization? How are these services paid for?
4. Do you provide prospective families a list of families who have used your services and have agreed to be contacted?
Other Agencies 1. How do you coordinate with area school districts that the children you are supporting attend?
2. How do you coordinate with private therapists that the family employs who are not a part of your organization?