Webinars

Audit Ready: What NY Medicaid’s ABA Audit Means for Providers

Friday, September 18, 2026

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (EDT)

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Event Details

Abstract

New York Medicaid providers play a critical role in ensuring individuals with autism have access to high-quality, evidence-based applied behavior analysis (ABA) services. The New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) recently issued an ABA Audit Protocol covering dates of service beginning August 1, 2021, through June 25, 2026. This protocol guides how OMIG evaluates Medicaid requirements and determines the appropriateness of Medicaid expenditures. This webinar will provide NY Medicaid ABA providers with a practical, provider-focused overview of OMIG’s audit criteria. OMIG representatives will discuss the audit process and highlight key areas identified in the protocol. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of OMIG’s expectations, processes, practical considerations, and best practices to support an efficient and effective audit experience.

Learning Objectives

Participants will describe the purpose and scope of the NY Office of the Medicaid Inspector General’s audit of the ABA Medicaid benefit.
Participants will explain the key areas of focus of the NY Office of the Medicaid Inspector General's audit of the ABA Medicaid benefit.

This webinar is sponsored by the CASP New York State Advocacy Group (SAG).

CASP Members and Allied Affiliates may join the NY SAG at the link below:

New York SAG

This webinar is not eligible for continuing education units.

Questions? Contact Us.

Presenters

Mariel Fernandez

Mariel Fernandez is Vice President of Government Affairs for the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP) and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) licensed in Texas. She earned her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis from Auburn University in 2004. A passionate advocate for access to evidence-based care, Mariel leads CASP’s advocacy, public policy, and legislative efforts at the state and federal levels. She serves on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Behavior Analyst Advisory Board and is a former President of the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis Public Policy Group. Mariel works closely with state and federal regulatory agencies and legislative offices on issues affecting access to autism services. In 2026, she received the APBA Jerry Shook Award for her efforts to protect access to care for TRICARE and Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide.

Mike D'Allaird

Mike D'Allaird serves as Deputy Medicaid Inspector General for the Division of Medicaid Audit. In this capacity, Mike is a key member of the Executive management team, managing the strategic direction and overall operation of the Division of Medicaid Audit. Prior to his appointment, Mike served as an Associate Attorney in the agency’s Office of Counsel, where he helped develop and implement several legislative and regulatory initiatives, including the agency’s 2022 fraud, waste and abuse prevention rulemaking, and led a team of attorneys, auditors, investigators, data analysts and others with drafting and negotiating amendments to the state’s Medicaid Managed Care model contracts. In this prior role, Mike also managed senior attorneys who represented the agency in administrative hearings, rendered legal advice on a broad range of subject areas, and was OMIG’s designated Ethics Officer. Mike began his career with OMIG in 2008 as a legal intern. Mike earned his Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School, master’s degree in Public Administration from The Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, and bachelor’s degree in History and Political science from The College of Saint Rose.

William Schwarz

Bill Schwarz has extensive, executive-level experience in both the private and public sectors in such areas as health care, higher education, energy and economic development. Mr. Schwarz assumed the role of Director of Public Affairs for OMIG in October 2014. As a member of the executive team, he oversees all aspects of OMIG's communications and media relations planning and execution efforts to heighten awareness of the agency's mission, effectively promote staff and agency achievements, manage crisis communications, provide strategic communications counsel and support for agency leadership and staff, and manage agency web-based and social media communications. Mr. Schwarz also plays a key role in OMIG's strategy development and provider relations activities. Prior to OMIG, Mr. Schwarz served for nearly three years as Director of Public Affairs for the New York State Department of Health (DOH). In this capacity, he played a lead role in numerous DOH initiatives, including the planning and rollout of New York's health exchange, NY State of Health, the department's response and recovery activities related to Hurricane Sandy, and Medicaid reform/DSRIP, among others. Mr. Schwarz's private sector experience includes serving on the President's staff at Union College, where he led the College's corporate and government relations functions as well as marketing and public relations. Mr. Schwarz also served as Global Communications Leader for GE Energy in Houston, TX. Mr. Schwarz has also held executive-level positions in award-winning marketing and public relations firms based in the Northeast.

Maureen O'Grady

Maureen O’Grady, a Board-Certified and NYS Licensed Behavior Analyst since 2014, has a wealth of experience in applied behavior analysis (ABA). She began her career as a school-based behavior consultant, parent trainer, and ABA program supervisor across Long Island, where she also managed after-school and weekend programs for children and teens with complex needs. In 2015, she became an Assistant Clinical Director and oversaw home and school-based programs and managed insurance-funded services. In 2016, Maureen expanded her work to the child welfare system in NYC. She recognized and began addressing disparities in service accessibility for children below the poverty line, advocating systemic changes at local and state levels. Maureen currently serves as the Director of Behavior Intervention Services at New Alternatives for Children, a child welfare agency in NYC that specializes in working with children who have complex medical needs. Maureen supports foster care systems by consulting with staff and foster parents, helping children with complex needs remain in stable homes. Maureen oversees all behavior analytic services, including 1:1 ABA, Social Skills Groups, Caregiver Training, Staff Training and Case Consultations. Maureen has served on the NYSABA Board since 2019, where she advocates for the improvement of the practice of behavior analysis in NY.