MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Autism-Treatment Approval Backlog Leaves About 1,000 Children and Families Waiting

DHS acknowledges authorization reviews are taking longer than required as providers warn delayed approvals are disrupting care and Medicaid reimbursement

SAINT PAUL, MN (September 6, 2026). Minnesota is working to clear a significant backlog in authorizations for autism-treatment services after providers were told that approximately 1,000 children and their families were waiting for treatment-plan approvals, raising concerns about interruptions in care and delayed Medicaid payments.

The delays involve Minnesota's Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program, commonly known as EIDBI.

EIDBI is a Minnesota Health Care Programs benefit providing medically necessary services to eligible people under age 21 with autism spectrum disorder or related conditions.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has acknowledged that its medical-review agent, Acentra Health, is experiencing authorization timelines longer than required because of increased review volume.

Dr. Eric Larsson, executive director of the Lovaas Institute, told CBS Minnesota that state officials informed providers in mid-August that approximately 1,000 children and their families were waiting for plan approvals.

Acentra is required to act on 98 percent of authorization requests within five business days, according to DHS. Failure to meet that performance requirement can result in financial penalties under the company's contract.

DHS told CBS Minnesota that if the contractor cannot resolve the backlog within required timelines, possible next steps include continued remediation, removing noncompliant services from the contract or terminating the contract for breach.

Acentra attributed the backlog in part to sharply increasing demand, telling CBS Minnesota that EIDBI referrals have risen 144 percent since 2022.

The company says it has hired additional staff and is reallocating resources to reduce the backlog.

Why the Delay Matters

For families, an authorization is not simply another administrative document.

It can determine whether treatment begins or continues without interruption.

For providers, the consequences are also financial. Without approved treatment plans, providers can face delays in billing Medicaid for services already being delivered.

DHS says it and Acentra are increasing review capacity, improving workflow and prioritizing cases most likely to experience interruptions in care.

Priority cases include initial Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Evaluations and Individual Treatment Plans, along with treatment plans approaching the end of an existing service agreement or otherwise at risk of an authorization gap.

WHAT FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS SHOULD KNOW

DHS is advising providers to submit EIDBI authorization requests at least 30 days before the intended start date.

The department also says EIDBI service authorizations may be approved retroactively for as many as 180 days, but Acentra cannot approve requested dates beyond that retroactive period.

Providers should also verify whether a patient receives fee-for-service Medicaid or coverage through a managed-care organization.

Acentra reviews authorizations for fee-for-service Medicaid. Authorization requests for people enrolled through a managed-care organization must be submitted directly to that organization.

DHS is additionally asking providers not to submit duplicate requests unless Acentra specifically requests a resubmission or the provider is supplying new information. Duplicate submissions require additional sorting and can further slow processing.

The state has not announced a specific date by which the entire backlog will be eliminated.

OFFICIAL EIDBI INFORMATION

Families and providers can follow Minnesota Department of Human Services updates concerning EIDBI authorizations and Minnesota Health Care Programs.

Minnesota DHS provider news and EIDBI authorization updates

MinneapoliMedia will continue watching whether the state releases updated backlog numbers, how quickly pending authorizations are processed and whether families experience interruptions in treatment.

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