ABA provider leaves Texas amid Medicaid strain

Autism Learning Partners (ALP), a national provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, announced plans to cease operations in Texas effective March 2026. The company attributes this decision primarily to inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates and administrative barriers related to benefit management.

Impact on Texas autism services

ALP currently serves families in key metropolitan regions including El Paso, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Greater Houston. The departure of this established provider highlights ongoing challenges within Texas’s Medicaid system that affect the sustainability of high-quality ABA services. ALP leadership emphasized the limited number of organizations in the state that can maintain care standards under current funding models. This contraction poses increased risks to service continuity for autistic children reliant on Medicaid-supported therapies

Medicaid rate adequacy under scrutiny

The announcement functions as a cautionary indicator regarding the adequacy of Medicaid payment structures in large states with significant demand for IDD services. Low reimbursement rates have long been criticized for limiting provider participation and reducing care availability. ALP’s forthcoming exit may amplify concerns about provider retention and accessibility in Texas and similar Medicaid-reliant states.

Transition planning and future outlook

While ALP intends to assist affected families in connecting with alternative local therapy providers, leaders acknowledge that options are scarce. The move underscores pressure on Medicaid frameworks to adjust reimbursement policies if provider networks are to remain viable and responsive. The situation warrants attention from policymakers and stakeholders involved in the provision and funding of IDD services, particularly autism-related behavioral health supports.