HELP! How Can My Child Receive ABA Services?

Blooming Potential
July 7, 2024

As a Parent, Where do I Start?

Obtaining ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) services can be a daunting process for parents. Here’s a structured guide to help navigate this pathway.

The Path to ABA Services

ABA services differ from other therapies like Speech Therapy (ST), Occupational Therapy (OT), and Physical Therapy (PT). Unlike these, you need more than a doctor’s referral for insurance to cover ABA services. In addition to the referral for ABA services by a medical professional, your child will need a Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation (CDE).

Initial Steps

Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation

You may speak to your doctor and believe that you can then be referred and begin ABA services. However, there is more than one pathway to getting what’s needed (CDE + ABA referrals) to actually begin ABA services. Still, always share any concerns with your doctor as you have them. There are additional providers who may be able to complete a diagnostic evaluation, such as Speech-Language Pathologists who are qualified. The determination of who else may qualify as a diagnostic provider are typically indicated in individual insurance manuals.

Referral for ABA Services

The actual referral for ABA services can be by prescribing professionals. This typically includes medical doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and prescribing psychiatrists.

How to Pre-prepare for the Process

These are some things that can help you get things in order that best suits your family and your desire for your child’s progress.

Recognize That This Process May Take A Lot of Time

Parents often wish to start services immediately upon realizing the potential impact in their child’s and family’s life, rightfully so. However, there are typically waiting periods for both the CDE to be performed and initiating services for ABA.

Contact ABA Clinics

Begin the process of figuring out which ABA clinic is best for you and your family. This can include gathering the following information:

Does this ABA clinic take your child’s insurance?
Does this ABA clinic have immediate availability?
If there is a waiting list, what’s the expected wait time?
If your child needs additional services, are those services provided there?

[I suggest also asking questions related to treatment and meeting with a supervisor to ask questions. Some clinics also let you tour the clinic. These things can help you determine which place is best for your family based on ethical, professional, and competent levels].

Contact CDE Providers

As with any service, paperwork will be needed. You can contact area CDE providers to determine the following:

Does this provider take your child’s insurance?
Does this provider have immediate availability?
If there is a wait time, what’s the expected time frame?

If you do decide which CDE provider you will be using, you can also ask for the paperwork so that it will be complete. [Note that if there is a long wait time, you may need to wait until closer to time so that the information is more up to date].

When Will We Begin ABA Services?

ABA services begin following the completion of a CDE, receival of a referral that indicates the need for ABA services, and once an authorization has been received from your insurance provider. Unfortuantely even once the CDE is completed and the ABA clinic has received all of the information needed, there may be more wait time involved. As ABA is intensive and has longer sessions lengths, it is not always possible to immediately onboard clients. There may be a waiting list of clients also waiting to get in to services at that clinic.

Here is our simplified visual to show the process of beginning services.

Conclusion

Having a clear view and structured approach is essential for obtaining more immediate ABA services. By preparing ahead and understanding what’s involved, you can navigate this process more efficiently and minimize the confusion and waiting times involved.

Let’s put it all together!