--- title: "Texas proposes cutting funding for children's autism program" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/health/texas-proposes-cutting-funding-for-childrens-autism-program" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/texas-proposes-cutting-funding-for-childrens-autism-program" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/health/texas-proposes-cutting-funding-for-childrens-autism-program.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/texas-proposes-cutting-funding-for-childrens-autism-program" category: "Health" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-13T01:45:57.223Z" source_reported: "2026-10-12T17:18:02.000Z" updated: "2026-10-13T01:45:57.223Z" trust_score: 86 critic_score: 87 hype_score: 12 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-13T20:30:17.764979+00:00" --- # Texas proposes cutting funding for children's autism program *State agency seeks to eliminate services that provide applied behavior analysis therapy to autistic children.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Multiple named sources, budget document, and two independent full reports provide corroborated details. - Craft 87 of 100, higher is better. Quotes from families and officials, specific figures, and clear explanation of budget impact. - Hype 12 of 100, lower is better. Straightforward language with no sensationalist framing. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The Texas Health and Human Services Commission proposed eliminating funding for the Children's Autism Program in its 2028-2029 budget request. - The program provides up to 720 hours of applied behavior analysis therapy to autistic children, contracting with 16 providers statewide. - The state spent $13.7 million on the program over the past two years and funded treatment for 583 children in fiscal year 2026. - The proposed elimination is part of a broader directive for state agencies to cut spending by 3%. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has proposed eliminating funding for the Children's Autism Program (CAP) in its budget request for the 2028-2029 biennium. The program offers applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to autistic children. The state spent $13.7 million on CAP over the last two years, funding treatment for 583 children in fiscal year 2026. The program contracts with 16 providers across Texas and offers eligible children up to 720 hours of ABA therapy. The proposed cuts are in response to a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows for state agencies to reduce spending by 3% in the next biennium. HHSC officials stated that reductions were focused on services with the lowest direct impact to clients and minimizing impacts on federal funding. However, the agency's budget request acknowledged the significant demand for autism therapy, noting that it exceeds the availability of qualified providers, particularly in rural areas. ## Disagreement on program's redundancy Washington Top News and KSAT 12 reported that HHSC officials pointed to the expansion of Medicaid benefits for ABA therapy in 2022 as a reason the state program might appear redundant. However, Disability Rights Texas and the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities argued that relying solely on Medicaid could leave many without access. They cited issues such as families without insurance or on self-funded plans not being covered, and difficulties in finding providers willing to accept Medicaid due to low reimbursement rates. Washington Top News quoted Disability Rights Texas senior policy specialist Jeff Miller stating that CAP, being solely state-funded, may have been an easier target for cost-cutting without jeopardizing federal funds. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific number of providers the Children's Autism Program contracts with statewide. None of the right-rated digests mention the program's start date, the number of children funded in fiscal year 2026, or the existence of waitlists for the program. None of the centre-rated digests mention the program's start date or the number of providers it contracts with statewide. ## Who covered it Shares of the 27 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 41% (11) - Centre: 55% (15) - Right: 4% (1) 2 of 29 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-13T20:30:17.764979+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 29 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-13T21:30:09.927Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports highlighted the impact of the proposed cuts on children and families, often leading with the story of 7-year-old Israel Solis and his mother, Elizabeth. They noted that the program allows some families to pay nothing for services. The reports mentioned that 583 children were funded in fiscal year 2026, with at least 1,000 more children on waitlists. The left-rated outlets also included the perspective of Jacquie Benestante, executive director of the Autism Society of Texas, who expressed shock at the proposed elimination. The reports from this side included details about the program's role in providing ABA therapy, the state's spending of $13.7 million over two years, and the expansion of eligibility to those up to 21 years old. They also featured quotes from advocates like Jolene Pohl of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, who argued that not providing services would cost the state more in the long run. The Texas Tribune noted the proposed elimination comes as Texas leadership called for budget reductions of 3%. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports also led with the story of Israel Solis and his mother, Elizabeth, detailing how therapy through the state-subsidized program helped him communicate. They stated the Texas Health and Human Services Commission proposed eliminating funding for the Children’s Autism Program due to budget cuts. These reports included the program's provision of up to 720 hours of ABA therapy and the state's expenditure of $13.7 million over the past two years, funding 583 children in fiscal year 2026. The centre-rated outlets mentioned the directive for state agencies to cut spending by 3%. They also included comments from Jacquie Benestante of the Autism Society of Texas expressing shock. Reports from this side also detailed the complexities of Medicaid coverage for ABA therapy and quoted advocates explaining why the state program remains necessary for families who fall through the gaps. ### Right - The right-rated report stated that Texas health officials proposed cutting funding for a program that helps autistic children communicate. It identified the program as the Children's Autism Program, which offers therapy at reduced costs, and noted the Texas Health and Human Services Commission wants to eliminate it due to budget cuts. The report did not include personal stories or quotes from advocates or parents. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 10 - unknown: 3 - veryHigh: 16 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [San Antonio Current](https://sacurrent.com/news/texas-news/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-childrens-autism-program) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/40b31fcc783f519f) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children's autism program - [PBS NewsHour](https://pbs.org/newshour/health/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-childrens-autism-program) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [The Nerd Stash](https://thenerdstash.com/abbott-is-destroying-texas-bit-by-bit-texas-residents-furious-as-state-proposes-eliminating-childrens-a) — 'Abbott Is Destroying Texas Bit by Bit!': Texas Residents Furious as State Proposes Eliminating Children's Autism Program - [WFAA 8abc](https://wfaa.com/article/news/politics/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-childrens-autism-program/287-9ab063c5-fe2b-456e-9fe3-92b992c7b63d) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [News Facts Network](https://newsfactsnetwork.com/local-news/texas-autism-program-faces-elimination-as-more-than-1000-children-wait) — Texas Autism Program Faces Elimination as More Than 1,000 Children Wait - [MedPage Today](https://medpagetoday.com/neurology/autism/123376) — Texas Health Agency Proposes Eliminating Children's Autism Program - [WBAL](https://wbal.com/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-childrens-autism-program) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children's autism progra - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_512ace67-9ca0-5e11-9b6e-82151e72d6bf.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/10/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-childrens-autism-program) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program – WTOP News - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/texas-childrens-autism-services-budget-cuts-93d5a241a8813665cf015dbe7111fb8c) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [Rutland Herald](https://rutlandherald.com/ap/national/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_8d47f28e-ee54-531c-b96c-46ec2d94712a.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [The Daily Sentinel](https://dailysentinel.com/anpa/us/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_9b2a2a9e-96d2-5839-92ae-e1223045e286.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [Goshen News](https://goshennews.com/news/national_news/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_c0c1b75d-069d-56b2-a586-4370e71bff56.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [Beloit Daily News](https://beloitdailynews.com/news/national-news/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_aeede2a1-3a5b-50ba-ad76-fa6b71e5a45c.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [The Northern Virginia Daily](https://nvdaily.com/associated_press_national/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_a5000cdb-d6a8-512e-878e-d2dd9da09d92.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [El Paso Inc.](https://elpasoinc.com/news/ap_wire/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_35013719-40cb-5f67-a542-e95065490eb5.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [Weatherford Democrat](https://weatherforddemocrat.com/ap/national/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_e061f1b9-b3b1-5b0f-be66-5dfd3272ad40.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [Daily News-Record](https://dnronline.com/associated_press/national/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_3d0bb365-2299-555c-82df-b6366362a29e.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [KTEN](https://kten.com/news/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_e497366d-a525-5fde-9e45-d2bc0d87ac69.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [KXAN](https://kxan.com/news/texas/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-childrens-autism-program) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [The Record](https://therecord.com/life/health-wellness/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_73d96e94-e61f-57a5-80b9-b248139851a3.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/life/health-wellness/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_c15a408c-9ad4-5a4d-9439-522b8c6f5021.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [NiagaraFallsReview.ca](https://niagarafallsreview.ca/life/health-wellness/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program/article_6739eb1f-df29-5035-939a-ddc9672cecb1.html) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [Spectrum Local News](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2026/10/12/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-children-s-autism-program) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/2026/10/12/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-childrens-autism-program) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [The Gilmer Mirror](https://gilmermirror.com/2026/10/12/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-childrens-autism-program) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [KSAT 12](https://ksat.com/news/texas/2026/10/12/texas-health-agency-proposes-eliminating-childrens-autism-program) — Texas health agency proposes eliminating children’s autism program - [The Texas Tribune](https://texastribune.org/2026/10/12/texas-childrens-autism-program-elimination-threat) — Texas proposes eliminating children’s autism program ## Questions **What is the Children's Autism Program in Texas?** The Children's Autism Program is a state-subsidized initiative in Texas that provides applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to autistic children. It contracts with 16 providers statewide and offers eligible children up to 720 hours of therapy, with costs reduced based on family income and insurance coverage. **Why is Texas proposing to eliminate funding for the program?** The Texas Health and Human Services Commission proposed eliminating funding as part of a directive for state agencies to cut spending by 3% in the upcoming biennium. Officials stated the reductions were focused on services with the lowest direct impact to clients and minimizing impacts on federal funding. **How many children does the program serve and how much does it cost the state?** In fiscal year 2026, the program funded treatment for 583 children. The state spent $13.7 million on the program over the past two years. There are also at least 1,000 children on waitlists statewide. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/health/texas-proposes-cutting-funding-for-childrens-autism-program. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Texas proposes cutting funding for children's autism program", https://mediabias.news/health/texas-proposes-cutting-funding-for-childrens-autism-program