Business

Value-Based Contracting in ABA: Who’s Doing It and What the Early Data Shows

A handful of payers and providers are experimenting with contracts that tie ABA reimbursement to outcomes rather than hours. The industry has talked about value-based care for years. Here’s what’s actually running, what the measurement infrastructure looks like, and why the CEO of one of the largest ABA providers says the industry will see “few…
Featured
Ryan Calloway Started at $16 an Hour. At 33, He Co-Founded One of Arizona’s Most Distinctive Benefits Brokerages—and ABA Organizations Are the Ones Who Should Pay Attention
Featured
HIPAA Meets Generative AI in ABA: The Compliance Minefield Every Practice Using AI Notes Must Navigate
Featured
Meet the Digital Marketing Agency Sending Shockwaves Through ABA—and Why the Practices Using Them Can’t Stop Their Phones From Ringing
Featured
Robert W. Baird: The Milwaukee-Based Employee-Owned Firm Whose Baird Capital Has Invested Directly in ABA—and Whose Investment Banking Arm Covers Healthcare Services M&A Broadly
Lincoln International and MarshBerry
Featured
Lincoln International: The Global Middle Market Boutique Whose Healthcare Services Practice – and ABA-Inclusive Behavioral Health Coverage – Reaches Buyers on Four Continents
ABA’s Documentation Crisis: Why Session Notes Are the Number One Audit Failure Point—and What Payers Are Doing About ItClinical PracticeFeatured

ABA’s Documentation Crisis: Why Session Notes Are the Number One Audit Failure Point—and What Payers Are Doing About It

Across all four completed HHS-OIG state audits of Medicaid ABA payments, documentation deficiencies were the single most common error category. Session notes that lacked specificity, missed signatures, failed to link interventions to individualized treatment goals, or documented non-therapeutic activities as billable time appeared in virtually every sampled claim. Benesch, an Am Law 200 firm, warned…
8 min
The Venture Capital Wave in ABA Tech: Who Invested, Who Won, Who Folded

The Venture Capital Wave in ABA Tech: Who Invested, Who Won, Who Folded

Between 2019 and 2023, venture capital poured into ABA technology startups at a pace the industry had never seen. A unicorn appeared. Celebrities invested. SoftBank showed up. Then the reimbursement environment shifted, the froth cleared, and the companies that survived looked very different from the…
15 min
Generative AI and Session Notes: The ABA Admin Task That AI Is Eating First

Generative AI and Session Notes: The ABA Admin Task That AI Is Eating First

BCBA administrative burden averages 20+ hours per week. Eighty percent of session notes fail at least one payer requirement. And 75% of ABA organizations purchased AI-enabled tools in the last year. Session note automation is not the future of AI in ABA. It is the…
13 min
B. Riley Securities and Ben Matz: How Reimbursement Innovation and Technology Are Transforming ABA Deal Activity, According to the Firm’s Managing Director
14 min

B. Riley Securities and Ben Matz: How Reimbursement Innovation and Technology Are Transforming ABA Deal Activity, According to the Firm’s Managing Director

The Abolition vs. Reform Debate in ABA: Can Applied Behavior Analysis Be Made Neurodiversity-Affirming, or Is That a Fundamental Contradiction?
11 min

The Abolition vs. Reform Debate in ABA: Can Applied Behavior Analysis Be Made Neurodiversity-Affirming, or Is That a Fundamental Contradiction?

The RBT Credential Gap: Colorado’s Audit Found Up to 2,000 Uncredentialed Technicians Billing Medicaid – and the State Didn’t Know
7 min

The RBT Credential Gap: Colorado’s Audit Found Up to 2,000 Uncredentialed Technicians Billing Medicaid – and the State Didn’t Know

Indiana’s 4,000-Hour Lifetime Cap: The Most Aggressive ABA Utilization Control in the Country
7 min

Indiana’s 4,000-Hour Lifetime Cap: The Most Aggressive ABA Utilization Control in the Country

Wisconsin’s $18.5 Million ABA Audit: 100 Out of 100 Sampled Claims Had Errors – and the State Only Partially Concurred
7 min

Wisconsin’s $18.5 Million ABA Audit: 100 Out of 100 Sampled Claims Had Errors – and the State Only Partially Concurred

2026: The Year ABA Must Prove Its Value or Watch Payers Prove It for Them
9 min

2026: The Year ABA Must Prove Its Value or Watch Payers Prove It for Them

The Parity Enforcement Vacuum: Trump Administration Pauses the 2024 MHPAEA Final Rule, Leaving States as Sole Enforcers – With ABA Specifically in the Crosshairs
17 min

The Parity Enforcement Vacuum: Trump Administration Pauses the 2024 MHPAEA Final Rule, Leaving States as Sole Enforcers – With ABA Specifically in the Crosshairs

Free Job Board Built for ABA

Finding reliable ABA staff is hard enough—it shouldn’t be expensive, too. Post your open RBT or BCBA positions on our niche job board today at absolutely no cost. Reach the right candidates, faster.

Conditioned caregiver presence at sleep onset
The Sleep-Autism Connection: Why BCBAs Are Becoming the Default Sleep Therapists for Autistic Children

The Sleep-Autism Connection: Why BCBAs Are Becoming the Default Sleep Therapists for Autistic Children

Research consistently finds that 50 to 80 percent of autistic children experience significant sleep disturbances - a rate far exceeding the general pediatric population. Behavioral sleep interventions are the most evidence-supported treatment available, and the core protocols fall squarely within BCBA scope of practice.
12 min
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s 2022 Ethics Code
The BCBA Ethics Code Revision: What Changed, What Didn’t, and What It Means for Practice
11 min

The BCBA Ethics Code Revision: What Changed, What Didn’t, and What It Means for Practice

The BACB’s 2022 Ethics Code replaced an eight-year-old compliance framework with a principles-driven document that restructured clinician obligations, strengthened supervisee protections, and introduced explicit dignity language for the first time. This is a plain-language account of the most consequential changes - and the enforcement implications…
Autism diagnostic evaluations have historically been the domain of psychologists and developmental pediatricians
Direct ABA Diagnosis: Why Some States Allow BCBAs to Diagnose – and What Happens When They Do
12 min

Direct ABA Diagnosis: Why Some States Allow BCBAs to Diagnose – and What Happens When They Do

A small but growing number of states have expanded BCBA scope of practice to include autism diagnostic evaluations, a move that expands access in diagnosis-starved regions but draws sharp objections from psychology and medicine. This article examines the legislative landscape, the clinical evidence, and the…
A therapist at Action Behavior Centers engages a child in a naturalistic play-based session
Assent-Based ABA: The Practice Reform That’s Becoming Standard
15 min

Assent-Based ABA: The Practice Reform That’s Becoming Standard

For decades, ABA therapy operated on parent consent alone. A child’s willingness to participate was treated as secondary. That is changing fast, and assent is becoming one of the clearest fault lines between old-school compliance-based ABA and the next standard of ethical practice.
Lorri Unumb, CEO, Council of Autism Service Providers
How Lorri Unumb Turned Her Son’s Diagnosis Into the Law That Changed Autism Insurance Forever
13 min

How Lorri Unumb Turned Her Son’s Diagnosis Into the Law That Changed Autism Insurance Forever

A DOJ litigator-turned-law-professor wrote a bill at her kitchen table in 2005 because insurance wouldn't cover her son's therapy. Her husband took the laws she passed and made insurers comply with them. Twenty years later, every state in the country has a version of Ryan's…

Grow your ABA Business

Discover resources that can help you scale your company into a high-quality and hyper-profitable ABA company.

Value-Based Contracting in ABA: Who’s Doing It and What the Early Data Shows

Value-Based Contracting in ABA: Who’s Doing It and What the Early Data Shows

A handful of payers and providers are experimenting with contracts that tie ABA reimbursement to outcomes rather than hours. The industry has talked about value-based care for years. Here’s what’s actually running, what the measurement infrastructure looks like, and why the CEO of one of…
13 min
An aerial view of Medellín, Colombia
Colombia, the Philippines, and the Global BCBA: How ABA Companies Are Offshoring Their Back Office
12 min

Colombia, the Philippines, and the Global BCBA: How ABA Companies Are Offshoring Their Back Office

A quiet transformation is underway in the business operations of American ABA therapy companies. Facing a domestic labor market where BCBA positions go unfilled for months, where administrative staff turnover mirrors clinical turnover, and where billing complexity consumes hours that could be spent on patient…
Christopher Barnett speaks at an industry conference
How Christopher Barnett Built the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Autism Care Company
15 min

How Christopher Barnett Built the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Autism Care Company

Temple rejected his transfer application. He flew to Philadelphia anyway, walked into the admissions office uninvited, and didn’t leave until they let him in. Twenty years later, he handed the school $55 million. Everything in between — the real estate collapse, a daughter’s misdiagnosis, a…
The reception area and Kiddos’ Corner of an Action Behavior Centers clinic
Action Behavior Centers Has Hyper-Scaled — And Shows No Signs of Slowing Down
17 min

Action Behavior Centers Has Hyper-Scaled — And Shows No Signs of Slowing Down

Founded in 2016 by a husband-and-wife team with no previous healthcare business experience, Action Behavior Centers has grown from a single clinic in Austin into a nationwide platform operating in nine states, employing more than 10,000 people, and approaching $1 billion in annual revenue. The…
A healthcare administrator reviews claims
In-House or Out: The ABA Billing Decision That Quietly Makes or Breaks Clinic Cash Flow
18 min

In-House or Out: The ABA Billing Decision That Quietly Makes or Breaks Clinic Cash Flow

In-house billing means control and lower visible costs. Outsourcing means expertise and lower denial rates. The right answer depends on your practice size, payer mix, and growth trajectory — and most ABA owners are making the choice based on intuition rather than math. Here is…

Need to Vent (a little)?
Share Your Story on RBT Rant

Being an RBT is rewarding, but it’s also exhausting. Sometimes you just need to vent. Read anonymous confessions from your peers, share your own frustrations, and send digital “Hugs” to those who need it.

Arizona Medicaid Sued Over 1,000 Children Losing Autism Therapy Access

Arizona Medicaid Sued Over 1,000 Children Losing Autism Therapy Access

A new lawsuit alleges Arizona's Medicaid program is responsible for approximately 1,000 children losing access to vital autism therapy. The legal action contends state approval of insurer contract terminations has jeopardized continuity of care.
5 min
The RBT certification pathway
The RBT Credential Gap: Colorado’s Audit Found Up to 2,000 Uncredentialed Technicians Billing Medicaid – and the State Didn’t Know
7 min

The RBT Credential Gap: Colorado’s Audit Found Up to 2,000 Uncredentialed Technicians Billing Medicaid – and the State Didn’t Know

The HHS Office of Inspector General estimated that 1,500 to 2,000 behavioral technicians in Colorado lacked the required 40-hour training, competency assessment, and supervision — even as they delivered and billed for ABA therapy through Medicaid. Colorado has more than 6,600 certified technicians overall, meaning…
Indiana’s 4,000-Hour Lifetime Cap: The Most Aggressive ABA Utilization Control in the Country
7 min

Indiana’s 4,000-Hour Lifetime Cap: The Most Aggressive ABA Utilization Control in the Country

Effective April 1, 2026, Indiana imposed a lifetime allocation of 4,000 hours of ABA therapy for children on Medicaid — the most aggressive utilization control any state has enacted. After exhausting the allocation, children may access an additional 15 hours per week if medically necessary,…
Wisconsin’s $18.5 Million ABA Audit: 100 Out of 100 Sampled Claims Had Errors – and the State Only Partially Concurred
7 min

Wisconsin’s $18.5 Million ABA Audit: 100 Out of 100 Sampled Claims Had Errors – and the State Only Partially Concurred

Wisconsin’s ABA Medicaid spending rose from $39.9 million in 2018 to $53.7 million in 2022. The HHS-OIG audit found that all 100 sampled enrollee-months contained at least one improper or potentially improper payment. Auditors identified $12.3 million in confirmed improper payments (federal share) and recommended…
State mental health parity law strength varies dramatically by geography
The Parity Enforcement Vacuum: Trump Administration Pauses the 2024 MHPAEA Final Rule, Leaving States as Sole Enforcers – With ABA Specifically in the Crosshairs
17 min

The Parity Enforcement Vacuum: Trump Administration Pauses the 2024 MHPAEA Final Rule, Leaving States as Sole Enforcers – With ABA Specifically in the Crosshairs

The Trump administration has paused enforcement of the 2024 final rule implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, eliminating the federal compliance requirements that the rule had imposed on commercial insurers and employer-sponsored health plans. ABA therapy was specifically identified as a parity…

Make Headlines in the ABA World

Opening a new clinic? Announcing a merger? Launching a new technology? Don’t keep it a secret. Submit your press release to our editorial desk and get noticed by thousands of industry professionals.

Pediatric Therapy M&A Market Update
Pediatric Therapy M&A Market Update: More Buyers, More Exit Opportunities

Pediatric Therapy M&A Market Update: More Buyers, More Exit Opportunities

If you own an ABA, occupational, physical, or speech therapy practice and are considering a sale—now or in the next few years—the market continues to offer strong opportunities. The latest data confirms that buyers remain active, and the pool of potential acquirers is expanding.
3 min
Scientists Uncover Brain Signal Driving Autism’s Cellular Imbalance
5 min

Scientists Uncover Brain Signal Driving Autism’s Cellular Imbalance

Researchers have identified how rising nitric oxide levels may trigger a cascade of events leading to cellular dysregulation in some forms of autism. This discovery offers a clearer biological map for developing targeted therapeutic strategies.
Study Links White House Autism Claims To Rapid Shifts In Medication Use
5 min

Study Links White House Autism Claims To Rapid Shifts In Medication Use

A recent study indicates significant shifts in Tylenol and leucovorin prescriptions following a White House briefing on autism. The findings highlight the powerful influence of high-profile statements on health behaviors, even without new scientific evidence.
NIH Invests $50 Million in Autism Data Science Amidst Significant Research Advances
8 min

NIH Invests $50 Million in Autism Data Science Amidst Significant Research Advances

Despite federal funding cuts, 2025 marked substantial progress in autism research, including a new $50 million NIH initiative. This funding will drive 13 projects exploring gene-environment interactions and autism heterogeneity.
Private Equity’s ABA Inroads Tied to Autism Prevalence and Payer Policies
4 min

Private Equity’s ABA Inroads Tied to Autism Prevalence and Payer Policies

A recent study analyzed private equity acquisitions in the autism services sector across 42 states from 2015 to 2024. Researchers found a significant correlation between PE entry and states with higher autism prevalence and more generous insurance mandates for ABA therapy.

Do you need to track your clinical fieldwork as you accrue hours to sit for the BCBA exam?

Or for BCBAs, supervise someone who is accruing house?

Try Ripley Fieldwork Tracker – its Free.

Upcoming ABA Events

APR
9
Rosemont, IL · Apr 9–10
APR
9
Virtual · Apr 9–12
APR
16
Boston, MA · Apr 16–17
APR
17
APR
24
Tampa, FL · Apr 24
APR
26
Las Vegas, NV · Apr 26–28
MAY
8
Marlborough, MA · May 8
MAY
8
Virtual · May 8–9
MAY
13
Scottsdale, AZ · May 13–15
MAY
21
San Francisco, CA · May 21–25
JUN
25
Virtual · Jun 25–26
JUL
19
Baltimore, MD · Jul 19–21
SEP
12
This offer closes in 0:60
The ABA Weekly News

New CPT codes. Medicaid shifts. Clinics changing hands.

1,000+ ABA professionals got the update on Thursday. You didn't.

One email. Every Thursday. Unsubscribe in one click.

You're in.

Thursday, 8am CT. Don't fall behind again.