Securing Third-Party Payment for ABA Services: Some Challenges and Opportunities
Gina Green, PhD, BCBA-D
The recent movement to require health insurance coverage of applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) presents opportunities that, if addressed effectively, could have far-reaching benefits for consumers of ABA services, practitioners of ABA, the field of behavior analysis as a whole, and the healthcare system. But the arena of third-party payment for services is fraught with complexities and challenges that are likely to be unfamiliar to many behavior analysts and consumers. This presentation provides an overview of the current status of third-party payment for ABA treatment for ASD, the potential benefits, and the substantial risks. Some obstacles to obtaining third-party payment for ABA services are discussed, along with some practical strategies for overcoming them.
Dr. Gina Green received a PhD in Psychology (Analysis of Behavior) from Utah State University in 1986 following undergraduate and master’s degree studies at Michigan State University. She has been a faculty member in Behavior Analysis and Therapy at Southern Illinois University; Director of Research at the New England Center for Children in Southborough, Massachusetts; Associate Scientist at the E.K. Shriver Center for Mental Retardation in Waltham, Massachusetts; and Research Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Green is currently the Executive Director of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, a consultant in private practice in San Diego, a lecturer in Special Education at San Diego State University, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Behavior Analysis, University of North Texas. She has authored numerous publications on the treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities and brain injuries, as well as the experimental analysis of behavior. Dr. Green co-edited the books Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism and Making a Difference: Behavioral Intervention for Autism. She serves or has served on the editorial boards of several professional journals in developmental disabilities and behavior analysis. Dr. Green also serves on the Autism Advisory Group of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies and the advisory boards of several autism programs and organizations. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, former president of the Association for Behavior Analysis and the California Association for Behavior Analysis, a former member of the Board of Directors of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, a founding Director of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Council for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health. Psychology Today named her “Mental Health Professional of the Year” in 2000. In 2005 she received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from The Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland for her work in autism. Dr. Green lectures and consults widely on autism and related disorders, behavioral research, and effective interventions for people with disabilities.
The following publication authored by Dr. Gina Green will be available at the on-site bookstore located in the registration area. Dr. Green will also be available for a book signing on April 24 from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm in the conference registration area.
Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism
Making a Difference: Behavioral Intervention for Autism