Not yet. As of October 21, 2026, Florida has not adopted any new limit or cap on Medicaid ABA. A 10-member task force created by the Legislature is studying limits on how long services are authorized and possible caps on months of ABA. Its recommendations are due to the Governor and legislative leaders by December 31, 2026.
What is the ABA Task Force?
It is a 10-member advisory panel housed in the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), created by Section 40 of House Bill 5003-E in the 2026 special session. AHCA Secretary Shevaun Harris chairs it as a non-voting member. One seat, reserved for a family member of a Medicaid plan member who receives ABA, is still listed as pending. The panel's authority ends July 1, 2027.
What is it studying?
AHCA lists these topics:
- Clinical care models
- Care transitions
- Quality metrics
- Limits on how long services are authorized
- Possible caps on how long a child can receive ABA
- Provider enrollment and billing standards
What are the rules today?
AHCA's current coverage policy (Rule 59G-4.125) approves ABA for up to six months at a time, and renewing it requires a reassessment at least every six months. It covers up to 40 hours a week, and more can be approved for children under 21 when medically necessary.
Where does it stand?
AHCA's page lists meetings on August 12, August 31, September 28 and October 5, 2026, and a fifth meeting with no date yet. After the second meeting, reporting said the panel had made no recommendations and was still gathering information.
At the September 28 meeting, members raised ideas for further consideration, including limits on the number of hours approved (with exceptions for high-need cases), limits on Medicaid ABA during school hours and a state license for behavior analysts. AHCA's approved minutes say these were not task force-approved recommendations. On October 5, the panel heard other ideas, such as licensing ABA companies. As of October 21, AHCA's page shows no date for the fifth meeting, has not posted minutes for October 5 and lists no recommendations or report.
For context, a state Medicaid official told the panel on August 31 that the average recipient receives ABA for 32.5 months, according to WLRN/Florida Phoenix (September 2026).
What can I do now?
The task force makes recommendations; it does not change your child's current authorization by itself. Its meetings have included time for public comment. AHCA posts upcoming meetings on its task force page, and questions can go to BACOMMENTS@ahca.myflorida.com. We will update this page when the report is released.
When is the report due?
By December 31, 2026, to the Governor, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House, according to AHCA.
Has any cap been adopted?
No. As of October 21, 2026, no new limit or cap has been adopted. Members have raised ideas such as limits on approved hours, but AHCA's minutes say those were not approved recommendations.
General information, not advice for your child. This is a developing story; check AHCA's task force page for the latest.
Sources
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Task Force. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), accessed October 21, 2026.
- Applied Behavior Analysis Task Force Meeting Minutes, September 28, 2026 (approved October 5, 2026). Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), accessed October 21, 2026.
- Florida Medicaid Behavior Analysis Services Coverage Policy (Rule 59G-4.125, F.A.C.). Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), accessed October 21, 2026.
- No recommendations on autism care as task force completes second meeting. WLRN / Florida Phoenix (2026-09-01), accessed October 21, 2026.
- Autism treatment task force inches closer to finalizing recommendations. WLRN / Florida Phoenix (2026-10-06), accessed October 21, 2026.