In the news | March 16, 2026States Move to Cut ABA Therapy Payments as Medicaid Spending Spikes As Medicaid spending on ABA therapy continues to rise, states are reevaluating reimbursement rates and care models for autism treatment. In a recent study, Catalight Chief Clinical Officer Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., found higher therapy hours are not always linked to improved outcomes, emphasizing individualized care over a one-size-fits-all approach. Read News
In the news | January 20, 2026More Treatment Hours May Not Yield Autistic Children’s Skills Improvement: Study Becker’s Behavioral Health News highlighted Catalight’s recent study, “Dosage in Applied Behavior Analysis: Effect on Adaptive Behavior, Goal Attainment, and Dangerous Behavior,” which challenges the effectiveness of standard 30-40 hour ABA recommendations. Read News
Press release | January 16, 2026Study Finds More Treatment Hours for Autistic Children May Not Lead to Better Outcomes In a year-long study analyzing 725 autistic children across the United States, the Catalight Research Institute found that higher hours helped with short-term goals but did not improve broader functioning. Read press release
In the news | January 6, 2026Patient Safety Predictions for 2026 Patient Safety & Healthcare asked experts for predictions on 2026 trends in patient safety and care quality. Catalight Chief Clinical Officer Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., highlights a pivotal shift in autism and I/DD care as research drives more personalized approaches aligned with individuals’ unique goals. Read News
In the news | December 23, 2025Doreen Samelson Named Platinum Winner of the 2025 Pinnacle Awards in Mental Health Initiatives Acknowledging her exceptional leadership and impact in advancing the future of mental health business initiatives, Catalight Chief Clinical Officer Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., was named a Platinum winner of the 2025 Pinnacle Awards. Read News
In the news | September 23, 2025What to Know About Autism in Children In an article on the early signs of autism, U.S. News & World Report features Catalight Chief Clinical Officer Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., MSCP, who suggests treatment that prioritizes a child’s needs and empowers parents to build skills into daily routines, reducing intensive therapy hours. Read News
In the news | August 22, 2025The Future Of Autism: From Barriers To Breakthroughs As autism prevalence continues to rise, builders are thinking more about designing spaces that are more welcoming to individuals with developmental disabilities. Catalight Chief Clinical Officer Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., tells Forbes that designers should consult with autistic advocates and families early to help further support inclusion. Read News
Article | August 11, 2025Photos: Catalight Talks About the Implications on How Autism is Defined at APA Conference in Denver Catalight attended the APA conference in Denver, Aug. 7–9, presenting on evolving autism definitions and emerging concepts, including research on sleep and its impact on behaviors in autistic individuals. Read article
In the news | June 23, 2025Integrated Autism Therapy Models Mean More Than Co-Location In a discussion about the benefits and barriers of combining autism therapies, Catalight Chief Clinical Officer Doreen Samelson Ed.D., suggests a unified, wellbeing driven model backed by research and cost-effectiveness to boost validation and payer support. Read News
In the news | June 1, 2025Using Common Sense to Weigh the Pros and Cons of Vaccination In an op-ed about how vaccine benefits far outweigh perceived risks, Col. Eric Flake, M.D., interviews Catalight Chief Clinical Officer Doreen Samelson, Ed.D. – who shares the personal story of her son’s Rubella-related disabilities to illustrate the cost of skipping vaccines. Read News
