‘The ABA Industry Is Maturing’: Autism Executives Predict Growth, Innovation in 2024

The year 2023 saw several autism therapy organizations make dramatic — sometimes painful — adjustments to an evolving marketplace. And the landscape is set to shift even more heading into the new year. While the echoes of the coronavirus pandemic fade, inflation and stagnant payer rates put the squeeze on providers. On top of that, […]

Autism One-Stop Shops Improve Patient Care, But Can’t Cover Everything

Many health services are designed for neurotypical people, which can make it difficult for people with autism and other neurodiverse conditions to access offerings, such as primary care and dental care. But more autism providers are looking to tackle this issue by integrating specialized medical care under their roofs. Creating a “one-stop shop” for autism […]

‘It’s a Question of Diversification’: ABA Providers May Need to Become More Risk-Averse

Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy has become one of the most notable behavioral approaches to autism treatment, offering different locations of care to fit the specific needs of patients. Capitalizing on ABA’s versatile modalities may be the safest bet when creating a sustainable business model. Patients with autism can receive ABA therapy at a clinic, […]

Having Multiple Care Modalities Pays Off for Autism Treatment Providers

The rate of autism diagnoses has skyrocketed in the last decade, shooting from 1 in 68 to 1 in 36, according to the CDC. Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy has become one of the most notable behavioral approaches to autism treatment, but there’s no one-size-fits-all modality.  Clinicians providing ABA therapy meet children with autism where […]

Autism Therapy Companies to Watch in 2023

Industry insiders projected that 2023 would be a year of reckoning for autism treatment providers.  The reckoning is here. Major platform companies have made significant stumbles, and workforce challenges still plague the industry. All the while, payers continue to hold out on raising reimbursement rates for most autism therapies. Instead, payers eye value-based care arrangements. […]

‘It’s a Copout’: Why Payers Shouldn’t Say Value-Based Care in Autism Therapy Is Impossible

Value-based care in autism therapy doesn’t exist in a meaningful way. Several industry challenges create an urgent need for innovation in payment models. Stagnant fee-for-service rates and workforce pressures are at the forefront of those issues. Common value-based care challenges, like tracking and quantifying value, have also stymied many conversations. Yet, this type of innovation […]

Long-Stagnant Fee-for-Service Rates in Autism Therapy Stunting Industry’s Potential

Long-stagnant fee-for-service rates in the autism therapy space could stunt its potential as an industry and lock out innovation.  With key exceptions, autism therapy providers across the board have seen payer rates trending flat for years with some payers attempting to push rates down, according to more than a dozen provider, investment, legal and accreditation […]

Autism Therapy Providers Tie Upskilling to Beating Turnover, Serving More Families

Staffing challenges in autism therapy are driving providers to invest heavily in training and upskilling registered behavioral technicians (RBTs). In recent years, inflation and a red-hot job market made hiring and retaining staff harder, especially for RBTs Further, investors have tied staff retention to the company’s value as an investment and as a provider of […]