Further clarifications will be introduced to the procedure under which the Children’s Hospital Foundation determines the provision of maintenance psychosocial rehabilitation therapy. This will enable children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to receive a larger volume of therapy where the service is provided at a lower cost by the service provider. This will ensure that available state budget funding is used more efficiently, thereby providing greater support for children.
This is stipulated by amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations “Regulations on Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Their Family Members”, which were adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 30 June.
It is also planned to improve the psychosocial rehabilitation services provided by the Latvian Autism Association by introducing a more flexible service delivery model. This will allow children with ASD and their families to choose the most appropriate form of support according to their individual needs, thereby promoting a more targeted and effective rehabilitation process.
To ensure more rational service planning and the use of funding, the draft regulations provide for the introduction of a uniform 12‑month period for decisions made by the Children's Hospital Foundation and the Latvian Autism Association regarding the allocation of maintenance therapy and psychosocial rehabilitation services. If the allocated service is not used within the specified period, the unused funding may be redirected to other service recipients on waiting list.
The planned changes will promote more flexible and needs‑oriented provision of psychosocial rehabilitation services for children with ASD and their families, while ensuring responsible use of state funding and enabling a greater number of families to receive support.