ATLANTA — A dispute over slashed autism therapy rates for Georgia's foster children escalated this week at the state Capitol, with a Republican senator and advocacy groups demanding immediate action.

State Senator Brian Strickland of McDonough, a Republican running for state attorney general, joined parents and healthcare providers in calling for reversal of the 30 percent rate cut. The reduction, implemented by Amerigroup—the private company administering Medicaid coverage for children in Georgia's foster care system—took effect Sept. 1 and affects applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy.

"As a parent of a child with autism, I know what ABA therapy means for a family and Georgia's foster children, which is why I stood at the Capitol to make clear that these cuts are indefensible," Strickland said. He pledged to hold companies accountable if elected attorney general, adding political weight to the pushback.

Taylor Sanders of the Autism Families Alliance warned that the cuts could force providers to cease treating foster children. She previously estimated that as many as 75 percent of clinics might close or stop serving this population.

"Every moment where their child is not receiving services, we're seeing a regression in possible communication, safety skills," Sanders said, noting increased challenging behaviors among children losing access to treatment.

Sanders described one case: a mother whose three-year-old child had recently begun using words for the first time through ABA therapy now faces the loss of consistent one-on-one treatment that drove that progress.

The reimbursement cuts stem partly from the Trump administration's crackdown on Medicaid fraud, a federal initiative aimed at preventing alleged theft of millions from children through fraudulent claims. Advocates acknowledge the need for fraud prevention but argue the current rate cuts are dismantling critical services for children who depend on Medicaid-funded ABA therapy.

The focus now rests on whether Amerigroup or state officials will respond to mounting pressure from lawmakers and families.