May 28, 2026
The Boost News
AUTISM
Short Naps, Long Hours: How Autism Clinics Squeeze Medicaid Dollars Out of Preschoolers A NYT investigation found that the rapid expansion if A.B.A.-focused clinics has played out with little regulatory oversight and brought allegations of children being harmed by profit-motivated practices. (The New York Times)
Parental mental health — not medication — drives autism correlation, new study finds An analysis of 37 studies totaling more than half-a-million pregnancies with antidepressant use found no significant link between common antidepressant use during pregnancy and autism/ADHD in children after adjusting for the mother’s mental health and other factors. If you can’t read the Times story due to the paywall, here’s a press release. (Los Angeles Times/paywall)
MEDICAID
Congress slashed Medicaid funding to providers. The Trump administration wants to cut even further Behavioral health providers, dentists, and doctors could face steep cuts. (Stat News/paywall
Senators call for more Medicaid HCBS funding as part of a larger plan to increase funding for long-term care services. (McKnights Home Care)
MEDICAID ‘FRAUD’
Democratic attorneys general snub Vance’s anti-fraud roundtable at White House after late invite (CNBC)
DeWine, Dr. Oz address alleged Medicaid fraud in Ohio (NBC4)
Under White House pressure, Missouri speeds up effort to find Medicaid fraud (The Beacon News)
NJ defends record on uncovering Medicaid fraud in response to White House criticism (New Jersey Monitor)
SNAP
Map: SNAP Enrollment Has Dropped in Every State (Governing.com)
STATES
Note: This starts with New York, where a majority of The Boost’s readership currently is based, and continues alphabetically by state.
What’s in the 2026 NYS Budget? Here’s What To Know Human services providers (e.g., DSPs), contracted by the state will see a 2.7% increase in payments. The budget does not specify how much of that will go toward worker salaries. (NY Focus)
New York Medicaid beneficiaries confront barriers in accessing home care, study finds (McKnights Home Care)
California’s $2.4 billion special ed boost addresses critical needs, but challenges remain As TK-12 enrollment has declined by 8% over the past decade, the number of special ed students has grown by nearly 20%. (EdSource)
San Francisco County Office of Ed to Open New Special Ed Program for Students With Extensive Needs It’s for students with autism and intellectual disabilities, and the aim is to reduce costly non-public school placements and long transportation times for families. (KQED.org)
Colorado bill aims to protect students with disabilities, but awaits governor’s signature A bill sitting on Gov. Jared Polis’s desk could soon change the way Colorado schools serve students with disabilities by requiring them to adapt activities so every child can participate. (9news.com)
Nearly 8,000 Await Medicaid Waiver as Georgia Cuts Budget for 400 Spots, Council Says (Press release from the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities via The Georgia Virtue)
Louisiana invests $5.1 million to help students with disabilities FYI, a 2024 review by the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Office of Special Ed Programs found that the state did not meet federal standards in certain areas, especially regarding complaints and dispute resolution. (KTAL News)
Maryland budget cuts, looming deadlines put family caregivers in a ‘complete tailspin’ (News from the States)
PA homecare workers urge lawmakers for improved Medicaid reimbursement rate Under the current rate, homecare workers are paid 25-75% less than their peers in neighboring states. (Fox43.com)
New law will enhance emergency response for people with disabilities Regulations will require that certain healthcare providers conduct regular simulations to prepare employees to identify and respond to emergencies experienced by people with disabilities under their care. (Virginia Mercury)
EDUCATION
Ed Dept wants to end some IDEA data collections; special ed and disability groups pushed back The proposal would remove certain data collections for racial disparities in special ed. (K-12 Dive)
HIGHER EDUCATION
Autistic students who make it through college face a bigger challenge: getting jobs Some colleges are offering career-readiness classes and one-on-one career coaching; some are also working with employers to make their hiring and employment practices more inclusive. (The Hechinger Report)
VOTING RIGHTS
Federal judge refuses to block Trump executive order on mail voting — for now Trump’s executive order would give the U.S. Postal Service unprecedented control over mail ballots, but a judge said the agency hasn’t yet acted (Votebeat)
HEALTH CARE
Adults with developmental disabilities or cerebral palsy face earlier fall injury risks Researchers analyzed more than 35.8 million emergency department visits across 21 states. (news-medical.net)
PARENTHOOD
Do “special needs momfluencers” have their kids’ consent? This broadly discusses a certain type of mommy blogger — those who center themselves in the discussion — and raises interesting questions. (Rewire News Group)
TRAVEL
Ranking the U.S. Airlines Most Likely to Damage Your Wheelchair (2026) (Wheelchair Travel)
BAD NEWS
Parents push back after Chapel Hill yearbook omits 12 students with disabilities “Honestly, it feels like [I’m] an extinct animal … because my presence is there, I made a difference, but there’s no historical record of me.” (News Observer)
GOOD IDEAS
How Chefs on the Spectrum Empowers Adults With Autism (Today.com)