Autism Diagnosis in Morgantown, West Virginia

Morgantown is the state''s diagnostic hub. The WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities (CED, cedwvu.org) is West Virginia''s federally designated UCEDD and conducts autism evaluations; it also maintains a statewide provider directory and runs the Mind the Gap parent education and support group specifically for families waiting on evaluations or services. WVU Medicine''s children''s services provide additional pediatric and developmental care in the region. Because these resources are concentrated here, families from surrounding north-central counties routinely travel to Morgantown to be seen.

For the youngest children, WV Birth to Three is West Virginia''s Part C early-intervention system, serving children from birth to age three. It does not require an autism diagnosis and serves families regardless of ability to pay, which makes it an important parallel step while a diagnostic evaluation is pending. Monongalia County Schools, the local university-town district, handles educational evaluations and special-education eligibility for school-age children, which is a separate process from a medical diagnosis.

Once a diagnosis is in hand, West Virginia''s coverage pathways open up: the state insurance mandate (effective 2012) covers ASD diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment on state-regulated plans, WV Medicaid covers evaluation and treatment (with broad EPSDT benefits under 21), and CDCSP offers a TEFRA-style Medicaid route regardless of income.