Nearly 1,000 Arizona Children to Lose Medicaid-Funded Autism Therapy as Measles Cases Continue in Maricopa County
Phoenix, AZ – March 9, 2026 – Nearly 1,000 Arizona children on Medicaid are losing autism therapy coverage as Maricopa County reports measles cases in 2026.
Hundreds of Phoenix-area families are scrambling after several Medicaid insurers announced they are ending contracts with two major autism therapy providers, cutting off care for nearly 1,000 Arizona children starting this week.
Medicaid Plans Drop ABA Therapy Providers
According to AZFamily, Mercy Care, UnitedHealthcare and Arizona Complete Health will no longer cover services provided by Action Behavior Centers and Centria Health. Both organizations deliver applied behavior analysis, or ABA, therapy for children diagnosed with autism.
The change affects families enrolled in AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid program. Parents rallied at the State Capitol last week, urging state officials and insurers to restore coverage. Families who wish to continue with the same providers may need to seek new in-network options or pay out of pocket.
ABA therapy is widely used to support communication, behavior and daily living skills in children with autism. The insurers cited contract decisions, while families and advocates said the abrupt change leaves limited time to transition care.
Measles Cases Reported in Maricopa County
At the same time, measles activity remains a concern locally and nationwide. KJZZ reported March 6 that Maricopa County has recorded four measles cases so far in 2026. Pinal and Pima counties have also reported cases this year.
Health officials have not announced new public exposure sites in Maricopa County since early February. However, experts interviewed by KJZZ said outbreaks are continuing across the country and urged residents to confirm their vaccination status.
The Arizona Department of Health Services has previously noted that the vast majority of cases in the current outbreak involve people who were not vaccinated. The MMR vaccine is considered highly effective at preventing measles.
What Residents Should Know
Families affected by the ABA coverage changes can review notices from their health plan and contact their insurer directly for information about in-network providers and transition timelines.
Residents can check measles case updates through the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and review vaccination records with their healthcare provider if there is uncertainty about immunity.
If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.
