From first call to first session, we walk with you.
Enrolling in ABA involves a diagnosis, a prescription, insurance authorization and an assessment. It sounds like a lot. Our team does the paperwork with you, and this page shows exactly what happens at each step.
- Ages 2–10
- We verify your benefits
- Speech & OT in the same building
Two things make a child eligible. Here is what to gather.
Insurance plans require both a diagnosis and a prescription before ABA can be authorized. If you have one but not the other, reach out anyway and we will explain your next step.
Your child is eligible if
- They are between 2 and 10 years old.
- They have a current autism diagnosis from a qualified provider.
- They have a prescription or referral for ABA from a pediatrician or psychologist.
Not sure whether your evaluation counts, or still waiting on a referral? Call us. We can tell you what your plan will need to see.
What to have ready
- Diagnosis report from the evaluating provider.
- ABA prescription or referral from your pediatrician or psychologist.
- Insurance card, front and back, for every plan that covers your child.
- Recent IEP or evaluations from school, speech, OT or early intervention, if you have them.
Don't have everything yet? Send what you have. We will tell you what is missing and how to request it.
Most families are covered. We check before you commit.
We accept Medicaid, Washtenaw County Community Mental Health and most major commercial plans. Private pay is also available.
- Medicaid
- Washtenaw County CMH
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Priority Health
- McLaren
- Most commercial plans
- Private pay
Medicaid & Washtenaw CMH
Community Mental Health coordinates ABA for many Medicaid families in Washtenaw County. CMH allows 3 hours for the initial assessment, and authorizations are reviewed on a set period, commonly 6 months.
Commercial plans
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Priority Health, McLaren and most other commercial plans cover ABA with a diagnosis and prescription. Plans commonly allow 6–8 hours for the initial assessment; some authorize treatment for 6 months, others for 12.
Private pay
Families without ABA coverage, or who prefer not to use insurance, can enroll directly. Reach out and we will walk you through what is involved.
Six steps from first contact to first session.
Some steps depend on your insurance plan's turnaround. We stay in touch throughout so you always know where things stand.
-
1
Reach out
Call, email or send the form on this page. We will ask a few questions about your child, answer yours, and confirm we are a good fit.
-
2
Eligibility & benefits verification
You gather the diagnosis report, ABA prescription, insurance card and any recent IEP or evaluations. We verify your benefits and confirm what your plan requires.
-
3
Initial assessment with a BCBA
Your Board Certified Behavior Analyst meets your child and family, observes play, and interviews you about strengths, routines and concerns. CMH allows 3 hours for the assessment; commercial plans commonly allow 6–8, so it may be split across visits.
-
4
Treatment plan & authorization
Your BCBA writes an individualized treatment plan and submits it to CMH, Medicaid or your commercial plan for authorization. Some plans authorize 6 months of treatment, others 12.
-
5
Technician match, schedule & orientation
We match your child with a behavior technician, choose a weekly schedule block together, and hold a family orientation so you know the routine, the team and how to reach us.
-
6
First session, then ongoing care
Your child begins. From there, your BCBA supervises every week, meets with you for caregiver training at least one hour each month, and completes a reassessment before each reauthorization.
Therapy that fits around naps, preschool and school.
Children attend in focused blocks rather than all day. Your BCBA recommends the number of hours; you choose the block that fits your family.
| Block | Time | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Ages 2–5 | A four-hour block while energy is highest. Early communication, play and daily-living skills. |
| Midday window | 12:00 – 12:30 PM | Speech & OT | No ABA sessions. Children can attend speech or occupational therapy down the hall without missing ABA. |
| Afternoon | 12:30 – 4:30 PM | Ages 4–6 | A four-hour block with adaptive schedules for kindergarteners who attend school part of the day. |
| After school | 4:30 – 7:30 PM | School-age children | A three-hour block for children who attend school full time and need less intensive support. |
There is no test your child can fail.
The initial assessment is how your BCBA gets to know your child. Most of it looks like play. Your child explores the room and the toys while the BCBA observes how they communicate, request, imitate and move between activities.
You are part of the assessment too. Your BCBA will sit with you to talk through your child's strengths, daily routines, what is going well at home and what feels hard. Those answers shape the goals as much as the observation does.
Your BCBA uses established tools such as the VB-MAPP, ABLLS and AFLS to organize what they see. Depending on your plan's allowed hours, the assessment may take place across two or three shorter visits rather than one long one.
Before you call, a few answers.
More questions about ABA itself are on the main FAQ. For anything else, call (734) 224-9121.
Do we need the diagnosis and prescription before we contact you?
No. Reach out whenever you are ready. Both are required before insurance will authorize ABA, but we can explain what your plan needs and help you understand where to get it. If an evaluation is already in progress, let us know and we can plan ahead.
How long does the initial assessment take?
It depends on your plan. Washtenaw CMH allows 3 hours for the initial assessment, and commercial plans commonly allow 6–8 hours. Your BCBA may split the assessment across more than one visit so your child stays comfortable.
What if we already have an IEP or other evaluations?
Please share them. A recent IEP, speech or OT evaluation, or early intervention report gives your BCBA a fuller picture of your child and helps the treatment plan line up with what is already happening at school or in other therapies.
How often will we need to reauthorize?
Some plans authorize 6 months of treatment at a time, others 12. Your BCBA completes a reassessment before each reauthorization and reviews the results with you, so the request goes in before the current authorization ends.
Can my child receive speech or OT here as well?
Yes. Speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists work in the same Ann Arbor building, and the daily schedule includes a midday window so children can attend those sessions without missing ABA.
Tell us about your child and we'll take it from there.
Ann Arbor clinic
2900 Golfside Rd, Suite 6
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
2nd floor of the Golfside Professional Building