The Autism DadThis Ohio bill would require private insurance and Medicaid to cover applied behavior analysis therapy for autism, set minimum reimbursement rates for ABA providers, and allow exam-eligible technicians who have not yet passed their certification exam to provide ABA services.
HB 453
Regards insurance, Medicaid coverage of certain autism therapy
Here is what HB 453 does, in plain language, and the lawmakers deciding it right now. Read it, then make your voice heard in about five minutes.
The basics
✓ Reviewed by The Autism Dad, July 13, 2026
Ohio House Bill 453 would update state law so that private health insurance plans and Medicaid must cover applied behavior analysis, or ABA, as a treatment for autism spectrum disorder. The bill also sets a floor for how much insurers must pay ABA providers, requiring reimbursement of at least 100 percent of the Medicaid fee schedule rate. Coverage for ABA services listed in the bill would not face dollar caps or cost-sharing rules that are stricter than those applied to other medical and surgical benefits.
The bill also changes who can deliver ABA services. Right now, Ohio law requires a certified behavior analyst to perform or supervise ABA. This bill would create a new category called an exam-eligible technician, meaning someone who has completed the required training and is waiting to take or has recently taken their certification exam could practice ABA while that process is ongoing. Insurers would be required to cover adaptive behavior services provided by these exam-eligible technicians, in addition to fully certified Ohio behavior analysts.
What this could mean for your familyThe concerns being raised
The concerns being raised
- The concern being raised is that allowing exam-eligible technicians who have not yet passed their certification exam to practice ABA independently could expose autistic individuals to services from practitioners whose competency has not been fully verified.
- The concern being raised is that setting reimbursement at exactly 100 percent of the Medicaid fee schedule could lock in rates that some providers and advocates consider too low to sustain quality ABA programs, particularly in rural areas.
- The concern being raised is that the prior authorization requirement still built into the bill could create delays in accessing ABA services for families who need them quickly.
- The concern being raised is that age limits written into certain coverage categories, such as the under-14 cap on some therapies, may leave older autistic individuals without the same level of mandated coverage.
- The concern being raised is that the bill applies to most but not all insurance products, so people enrolled in certain plan types such as Medicare supplement or limited benefit policies would not gain the new protections.
In The News/Updates
The state doesn't update its public site in real time, so official information from the legislature can be delayed. Here's what's being reported in the media.
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Take action in 5 minutes
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Email the committee
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Your email
Dear Legislator, I'm an Ohio constituent and I'm writing about HB 453, Regards insurance, Medicaid coverage of certain autism therapy. I'm following this bill closely. As the Insurance Committee considers it, I want to be sure the concerns families like mine are raising are heard. [Add a sentence or two about why this matters to your family.] We are paying attention, we vote, and in November we will not forget how you voted on this. Thank you for your time, [Your name] [Your street address] [City], OH [ZIP] [Your email or phone]
Subject
Constituent message about HB 453, Regards insurance, Medicaid coverage of certain autism therapySend to (paste into BCC)
rep85@ohiohouse.gov, rep06@ohiohouse.gov, rep77@ohiohouse.gov, rep32@ohiohouse.gov, rep54@ohiohouse.gov, rep34@ohiohouse.gov, rep01@ohiohouse.gov, rep76@ohiohouse.gov, rep84@ohiohouse.gov, rep70@ohiohouse.gov, rep60@ohiohouse.gov, rep91@ohiohouse.gov, rep16@ohiohouse.govFills the [brackets] in the email and call script. These fields stay in your browser and are never sent to us. The email above updates as you type.
Start with the leadership
These 3 decide whether HB 453 gets a vote or a substitute.
The Chair, Vice Chair, and Ranking Member control scheduling and what the committee votes on. Start here, then reach the rest below.
Who you are contacting
Everyone on the committee is included by default. Open this only if you want to leave someone out.
Call (it counts even more)
Use the script. Start with the leaders.
Phone script
Hi, my name is [your name] and I'm a constituent. I'm calling about HB 453 (Regards insurance, Medicaid coverage of certain autism therapy). I want to make sure you hear the concerns families are raising about it as it moves through committee. Thank you.
Call list (leaders first)
Vice Chair, Meredith Craig (R-77): (614) 466-1474
Ranking Member, Derrick Hall (D-34): (614) 466-1177
Chair, Brian Lampton (R-70)
Tim Barhorst (R-85): (614) 466-1507
Christine Cockley (D-6): (614) 644-6005
Jack K. Daniels (R-32): (614) 466-1790
Kellie Deeter (R-54): (614) 466-9628
Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-1): (614) 466-5343
Marilyn John (R-76): (614) 466-5802
Angela N. King (R-84): (614) 466-9624
Brian Lorenz (R-60): (614) 644-6711
Bob Peterson (R-91): (614) 466-3506
Bride Rose Sweeney (D-16): (614) 466-3350Also contact your own reps
Your own legislators weigh constituents most. Add them without leaving this page.
Your address is used once to find your districts and is not stored. It goes to the U.S. Census geocoder to match your address to a district.
Spread the word
Post it and tag other Ohio parents.
Facebook / social post
OHIO FAMILIES: HB 453 (Regards insurance, Medicaid coverage of certain autism therapy) is in the Insurance Committee. These are the lawmakers deciding it right now. Make sure they hear from you.
START WITH THESE:
Vice Chair, Meredith Craig (R-77): (614) 466-1474
Ranking Member, Derrick Hall (D-34): (614) 466-1177
Chair, Brian Lampton (R-70)
THEN CALL THE REST:
Tim Barhorst (R-85): (614) 466-1507
Christine Cockley (D-6): (614) 644-6005
Jack K. Daniels (R-32): (614) 466-1790
Kellie Deeter (R-54): (614) 466-9628
Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-1): (614) 466-5343
Marilyn John (R-76): (614) 466-5802
Angela N. King (R-84): (614) 466-9624
Brian Lorenz (R-60): (614) 644-6711
Bob Peterson (R-91): (614) 466-3506
Bride Rose Sweeney (D-16): (614) 466-3350
No time to call them all? Call three. Then share this and tag every Ohio parent you know.
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