ABA Clinics Aren't Daycares

Lately CASP has received several reports of ABA clinics being asked to get licensed as daycares. It seems that some states want ABA clinics to be licensed and, in the absence of an appropriate license, have decided “daycare” is the closest option.

I’m not opposed to licensure of ABA clinics. But I am unequivocally opposed to states requiring ABA clinics to get licensed as something they’re not.

A daycare is a facility in which staff (typically unlicensed) watch children, usually while their parents are at work. No doctor’s recommendation is necessary to sign up. One staff member typically watches a group of children. Parents pay privately for the daycare services, often by the week or month.

An ABA clinic, on the other hand, delivers medically necessary care in accordance with an individualized treatment plan. Care is typically delivered in a one-staff to one-patient ratio. In most cases, staff are paid via health insurance reimbursement for services in accordance with CPT codes developed by the American Medical Association specifically for ABA services.  Services are billed in 15-minute increments.  Staff are typically licensed, certified, or registered by the state and/or a national credentialing body. Relevant credentialed professionals include Board Certified Behavior Analysts ("BCBAs"), Licensed Behavior Analysts ("LBAs"), and Registered Behavior Technicians ("RBTs").

CASP is preparing a position statement that articulates, in greater detail, the distinction between an ABA clinic and a daycare, and highlights the inappropriateness of requiring daycare licensing. Our hope is that this position statement will help our members advocate against this ill-suited concept. Stay tuned to the Resources page on the CASP website.