If your child has been diagnosed with autism and has Florida Medicaid, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a covered benefit — in most cases at no cost to your family. The process has a few steps, and knowing them in advance saves weeks of back-and-forth.
1. Confirm the diagnosis is documented
Medicaid needs a written diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder from a qualified professional — a developmental pediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist or neurologist. If you only have a verbal opinion or a school evaluation, that is usually not enough on its own. A school IEP is helpful supporting evidence, but it does not replace a medical diagnosis.
2. Get a prescription or referral
Ask your child's pediatrician for a prescription or order for ABA therapy that lists the autism diagnosis. Many families are surprised by how simple this step is — a short visit is often enough. If your pediatrician is unfamiliar with the process, our intake team can send them the exact wording that Medicaid expects.
3. Choose an approved provider
The provider must be enrolled with Florida Medicaid. American Institute of Mental Health is an approved Florida Medicaid provider, so eligible children can begin without out-of-pocket therapy costs. When you contact us, we verify your child's eligibility for free and tell you exactly what your plan covers.
4. Comprehensive assessment by a BCBA
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst meets your child, observes, interviews the family and uses standardized tools (such as VB-MAPP or ABLLS-R) to identify skills and needs. The result is a written treatment plan with measurable goals and a recommended number of weekly hours.
5. Authorization
We submit the assessment and treatment plan to Medicaid for prior authorization. This is the step families ask about most: it typically takes a few weeks. You do not have to chase it — our billing team follows up and keeps you updated.
6. Therapy begins
Once authorized, sessions start. A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) works one-on-one with your child under BCBA supervision, at home, at school, in the community, or through telehealth. Parent training is part of the program so progress carries over into daily routines.
Documents worth gathering now
- Medicaid card or member ID
- Prescription with the diagnosis
- Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation (CDE) if you have one
- Medical necessity letter
- IEP, if your child attends public school and has one
- Any prior evaluations or therapy reports
Missing something? Contact us anyway. Most families do not have everything on day one, and part of our job is helping you get the rest.
What if I do not have Medicaid yet?
You can apply through Florida's ACCESS system. We can also discuss private pay with flexible payment plans while your application is processed. Call us at (786) 652-6945 and we will walk you through the options.
This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. Coverage depends on your specific plan and your child's documented needs.