Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Applied Behavior Analysis, also known as ABA, is one type of service that is used to improve or change behavior to help the member in a meaningful way. Treatment is based on the needs of the individual and family. The clinical team will develop a service plan that may include ABA and/or other services to help support and teach new skills to support caregivers in assisting the member to improve their own helpful behaviors, in addition to reducing behaviors that could affect learning or be harmful to the member.

ABA is a covered service for Mercy Care members. Members must receive ABA services from a provider in Mercy Care’s provider network. Medically necessary services, including ABA, are determined by the member’s Child and Family Team (CFT) or Adult Recovery Team (ART).

Applied Behavior Analysis Providers

Provider Name	Location or area served	Specialty Populations	Website	Phone
Advanced Autism Center for Treatment	Maricopa County Home and community-based	Children 0-17	http://www.aactarizona.com/	480-389-4516
Adventure ABA	Phoenix and surrounding areas Home, community and clinic-based* *Clinic is limited to ages 2-6	Children 0-17	adventureaba.com	623-693-2954
American Behavioral Solutions	Maricopa County Home and community-based *bilingual staff	Children and Adults	https://americanbehavioralsolutions.com/	480-656-3530
Arion Care Solutions	Maricopa County Home, community and clinic-based	Children 0-17	arioncaresolutions.com/services/aba-ech	480-722-1300
Arizona Autism United	Maricopa County Home, community and clinic-based	Children and Adults	azaunited.org	602-773-5773
Ascend Behavior Partners	Home and community-based	Children 0-17	ascendbehavior.com	720-961-3764
Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)	Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties Clinic-based	Children 0-17	www.centerforautism.com	877-448-4747
Centria	Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties Home and community-based	Children and Adults	www.centriaautism.com	248-436-4578
Children’s Clinic	Pima County Home and community-based	Children 0-17	www.childrensclinics.org	520-324-5437
Devereux	Maricopa and Pinal counties Home, community, school and employment settings	Children 0-17	devereux.org	480-338-0421
FABAS	Pima County Home and community-based *bilingual staff	Children 0-17	www.fabasinc.org	520-795-2680
Hopebridge	Maricopa County Clinic-based	Children 0-17	www.hopebridge.com	855-324-0885
Hope Group	Maricopa and Pinal counties Home and community-based	Children 0-17	hopegroupaz.com/programs-services/comprehensive-applied-behavior-analysis	Phoenix: 480-610-6981 Tucson: 520-284-9655
Intermountain	Pima and Pinal counties, southeast and northern Arizona Home, community and clinic-based	Children 0-17	www.intermountaincenters.org	800-771-9889
Kaibab Behavioral Health	Northern Arizona Home and community-based	Children 0-17	www.kaibabaz.com	928-607-1280
Copa Health (formerly Marc Community Resources)	Maricopa County Home and community-based	Adults	marccr.com/applied-behavior-analysis-program	480-969-3800
Pathways of Arizona	Pima and Yuma County Home and community-based	Children 0-17	www.pathwaysofaz.com	520-748-7108
SEEK of Arizona	Maricopa County Home, community, and clinic-based	Children and Adults	seekarizona.org/behavioral-health-services/behavior-analyst-bcba-services	480-902-0771
Southwest Behavioral & Health Services	Maricopa County Home, community and clinic-based	Children and Adults	saceaz.org	PHX: 602-468-3430 & 602-388-1700, option 2 Mesa: 602-388-1700, option 3
Touchstone Health Services	Maricopa and Pinal counties Home, community, and clinic-based	Children 0-17	touchstonehs.org/behavior-analytic-services	866-207-3882
United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Arizona	Pima County Home and community-based	Children and Adults	www.ucpsa.org	520-795-3108

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Early Childhood Specialized Habilitation Autism (ECA) program?

ECA, also known as Early Intensive Behavioral Treatment, is a specialized habilitation service provided by the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD).

If you don’t have an open authorization on October 1, 2020, ECA services will no longer be available from the DDD. You can choose to get ABA services instead of ECA. The two DDD Health Plans, Mercy Care and United Healthcare Community Plan, will cover ABA services for members with new ECA authorizations that begin October 1, 2020.

2. What if the member is authorized for ECA but would rather receive ABA services from their DDD Health Plan?

Members/families cannot receive ABA services through the health plan and specialized habilitation through DDD. You will need to choose one or the other to avoid duplication of services. The Support Coordinator should continue to submit referrals until 9/30/2020 if a parent/guardian requests a specialized habilitation program.

If ABA is the preferred service, the Support Coordinator should encourage the member/family to seek ABA services through their DDD Health Plan.

3. What is Habilitation-Consultation (HAB-C)?
HAB-C, also known as Habilitation-Consultation, is a service provided by the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). If you have an open authorization before October 1, 2020, and you want to continue these services through DDD, DDD will continue to pay for these services under that authorization. If you don’t have an open authorization on October 1, 2020, HAB-C services will no longer be available from the DDD. You can choose to get ABA services instead of HAB-C. The two DDD Health Plans, Mercy Care and United Healthcare Community Plan, will cover ABA services for members with new HAB-C authorizations that begin October 1, 2020.

4. What if the member is authorized for HAB-C but would rather receive ABA services from their DDD Health Plan? If ABA is the preferred service, the Support Coordinator should encourage the member/family to seek ABA services through their DDD Health Plan.
Members/families cannot receive ABA services through the health plan and specialized habilitation through DDD. You will need to choose one or the other to avoid duplication of services. The Support Coordinator should continue to submit referrals until 9/30/2020 if a parent/guardian requests a specialized habilitation program.

5. What is the future of ECA and HAB-C services? DDD will continue to provide HAB-C and ECA services for existing authorizations dated prior to 10/1/20. DDD will continue with current authorizations for services until the member’s treatment program is completed. As of October 1, 2020, DDD will no longer approve new ECA and HAB-C requests. On October 1, 2020, members seeking ECA and HAB-C services will need to request medically necessary ABA services from their DDD Health Plan.

6. Where can I get more information and resources about the ECA and HAB-C transition?
Reference DDD’s website

7. Where can I learn more about the ABA services Mercy Care provides?
Please visit our website to learn more about ABA and the services Mercy Care provides. https://www.mercycareaz.org/members/ddd-formembers/autism