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Parents Lobby For Higher Pay For Autism Therapists

Parents are urging Nevada officials to pay more to therapists who work with children with autism.

Several people gave tearful testimony Monday at a Division of Health Care Financing and Policy meeting. One woman brought her son and said he would not be able to speak were it not for interventions when he was younger.

The state plans to reimburse Registered Behavioral Health Technicians who take Medicaid at a rate of $29.50 per hour. Parents want a $40 rate, saying Nevada needs to pay better to cover the full costs of employing the skilled workers and to attract enough therapists to the state.

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State officials took public comment at the meeting but didn't act on the rate, which is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.