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Arizona Medicaid and ABA therapy

Yes. AHCCCS covers behavior analysis (ABA) services for members with autism spectrum disorder, and for other diagnoses when medically necessary.

  • 6Medicaid plans with a directory
  • $17.91per 15 minutes, code 97153 (FFY27 (effective 10/01/2026))
  • 220ABA providers in our Arizona cities

At 40 hours a week, Arizona Medicaid's technician rate comes to $2,865.60 of billed ABA, the 2nd highest of the 6 states on this list (North Carolina: $3,329.60). Source: AHCCCS fee schedule (FFY27 (effective 10/01/2026)) and North Carolina's (2026).

Filling in a Arizona Medicaid application form at a kitchen table

How to get ABA therapy through Arizona Medicaid

  1. Get the diagnosis. ABA is covered for autism and for other diagnoses when it is medically necessary. To get an autism diagnosis, start with your child's doctor, who may refer you to a specialist for a full evaluation. Source: AHCCCS [2], Mercy Care.
  2. Find a provider that takes your plan. Use the list for your city, then check the plan's own directory below.
  3. The provider asks for approval. Most ABA treatment needs prior approval from the health plan. At Mercy Care, treatment codes 97153 to 97158 need approval, the first assessment does not, and approvals last 6 months. Progress reports are due at least every 6 months. Source: Mercy Care, AHCCCS, Arizona Complete Health.
  4. Hours are set by need. There is no set number of hours. A qualified behavioral health professional sets the amount, how often and how long, based on an assessment of your child. Source: AHCCCS.

The rules in Arizona

Programme
AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System), Arizona's Medicaid program Source: AHCCCS.
Age limit
No age limit. AHCCCS health plans say ABA is open to members of any age who meet medical necessity. Source: Mercy Care, Arizona Complete Health.
Who can provide it?
ABA must be directed and overseen by an Arizona licensed behavior analyst. Trainees and behavior technicians can deliver sessions under the analyst's supervision. Source: AHCCCS.
What Medicaid pays
$17.91 per 15 minutes for technician-delivered ABA (97153), FFY27 (effective 10/01/2026) schedule. $25.05 per 15 minutes when the analyst adjusts the plan (97155). Source: AHCCCS.
Official page
Resources for Members with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Source: AHCCCS.

Medicaid plans in Arizona and their provider directories

Most children on Arizona Medicaid are in a managed care plan. ABA providers must be in your plan's network, so search the plan's own directory for "applied behavior analysis".

The state's own Medicaid provider search Source: AHCCCS.

ABA therapy that accepts Medicaid in Arizona, by city

The public register doesn't record which plans a provider takes, so every list below shows all registered ABA providers. Ask each one the same thing: "Are you in network with my Medicaid plan?"