Positive Reinforcement F.A.Q.

Yes, most plans cover ABA therapy. We will check your benefits before starting services and let you know upfront what the costs will be.

Children and adults with autism spectrum disorder benefit the most from ABA therapy. Research has shown that the earlier ABA is started, the better results children and adults have.

ABA stands for applied behavior analysis and is the science of behavior Behavior analysts use the science of behavior to teach children and adults with autism functional skills like talking or signing, social skills, and self-care skills to reduce maladaptive behaviors and increase independence.

We are proud to be in-network with Tricare, United Healthcare, Anthem BCBS and Healthkeepers, Inc, Mediciad, Aetna, Cardinal Care, Evernorth, Sentara, Aetna Betterhealth, UMR, UHC Community Plan, and private pay. We are successful at getting single-case agreements with other insurance.

At Positive Reinforcement PLLC, all therapy and assessments take place in your home. You will never need to come to an office for services. The first step is to check your benefits and make sure we are in-network with your plan, or set up a private pay payment plan. We will then submit a request to the insurance company to authorize a visit to do an assessment. A BCBA will then come to your home to perform the assessment and write up a treatment plan. Next, we request another authorization from the insurance company to conduct weekly services with the patient.

Research shows that doing intensive ABA at a young age produces the most favorable outcomes. We recommend up to 40 hours per week maximum and a minimum of 12 hours per week to start. As the patient makes progress the number of hours is slowly faded. The number of hours will depend on patient's availability for services, the results of the clinical assessment, and any therapies that patient may have.

Due to company policy, the ABA therapist can stay home with the child as long as there is an adult over the age of 18 in the home if the parent or caregiver leaves. 

Once we receive an authorization to do the assessment we are able to start services in 30 days or less. 

Children and adults have ABA therapy for various amounts of time. Children benefit the most from starting with a high number of hours and slowing reducing over time to ensure goals are maintained. Some have therapy for 1-2 years, while others may benefit for longer periods of time.

All insurance plans require an ASD diagnosis except the Medicaid plan. Medicaid will also cover therapy for those diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, and many other diagnoses. 

Medicaid and Tricare plans reimburse at a rate that allows a BCBA to provide direct therapy in the home. Commercial insurance plans, like BCBS, allow us to provide a trained registered behavior technician (RBT) to do the direct therapy. Our RBTS are highly skilled and experienced. 

We do not yet offer speech and occupational therapy. However, we maintain an extensive resource list of local providers and will help in any way we can to set you up with these services. 

We do not yet diagnose ASD but can provide several options for reputable providers who do. 

We contract with a Spanish-speaking BCBA to translate and assist with parent meetings. Although the regular therapy will be provided in English, our translator has successfully helped us provide services to Spanish-speaking families. 

Early intervention (as young as 18 months) is ideal, but ABA therapy is beneficial for individuals of all ages.

Yes! The only exception is Medicaid, which only covers ABA until age 21. In the past, some insurance companies have requested an updated diagnosis.

Absolutely. Although our providers do not directly assist children with toileting, they can coach parents through this process and help them achieve success. 

We assist children with mild aggressive behaviors but refer those with severe aggression to providers who specialize in treating this behavior. 

Yes, we have experienced BCBAs who have received specialized training in treating feeding issues. 

Yes! ABA is the gold standard for treatment of autism spectrum disorder. We have achieved remarkable progress with the children and adults we serve.

Communication is a big priority for us. Many of the people we have helped have begun speaking if they have consistent therapy and for an adequate amount of hours. For those who do not make progress with speaking, we work to set them up with an alternative way to communicate (e.g., sign) and help train their families and caregivers in this method of communication.

Yes, modern ABA therapy is compassionate and child-centered. We focus on positive reinforcement, play-based learning, and individualized support to help each child succeed in a way that respects their needs and dignity. Our goal is to create a safe, engaging, and encouraging environment for learning and growth.

Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Richmond, some areas of Kentucky, and constantly expanding!