Association for Behavior Analysis International

As the number of funding sources which are managing applied behavior analysis services has expanded, so too have the unique requirements to initiate or maintain services. Specifically, organizations attempting to scale face many unique training, treatment protocols, data submissions, and credentialing requirements dictated by funding sources or government entities. This session explores how processes to meet requirements can be improved through identification of business opportunities, pinpointing specific provider and consumer behaviors needed, and implementing technology innovations to support required changes. Examples include: developing contingencies that ensure providers and families complete requirements so that ABA services can occur with reduced administrative burdens, working with funding sources to modify requirements, and automating processes to reduce time consuming requirements. Several interventions will be presented that occur in combination and are hypothesized to be directly related to reduced latency in "days to begin services from client application" and "days to begin working from employee application."

Participants are recommended to be experienced in managing aba services at a medium to large sized agency

The requirements for agencies to provide aba services are numerous and, as agencies grow and expand, these requirements grow exponentially and are affected by each funding sources and additional geographic coverage area. Often, agencies are left to navigate complex requirements with very little guidance from the funding source and without an understanding of which rules are open to negotiation and which steps within the authorization and management process can be reduced, combined, or eliminated. This symposium will offer antecedent, replacement and consequence-based interventions used to successfully increase collaboration with funding source partners. The discussion will focus on results of effecting insurance company requirements that are burdensome by a combination of reducing the requirements, teaching alternative ways to access required information, or providing the information with the assistance of technology to make the effort less burdensome. The effect of reducing administrative burdens is also hypothesized to benefit the recipients who receive behavior services resulting in less latency in the days to begin services and less gaps in services due to administrative problems.

Large agencies working with multiple funding sources often create long list of requirements to enter the field and often many potential practitioners will not complete these requirements and may be dissuaded by the ever-increasing list of requirements to practice in the field. These lengthy requirements are derived from satisfying local, state, an funding source specific credentialing requirements and can quickly become aversive. Systematic attempts to task analyze, reorder, and display steps in a visual pleasing way help ensure reinforcement throughout the process and can lead to completion. Other interventions include using technology to provide frequency notifications, and action links to prompt their completion. The measurable effect examined is the reduction in the number of days it takes for potential practitioner to become fully compliant and credentialed and working in the field. This session will examine specific strategies can an aba agency can implement to engage a potential practitioner and establish momentum that will lead to providing services in the field.