Florida Medicaid and ABA therapy
Yes. Florida Medicaid covers behavior analysis (ABA) under the state plan, with extra care possible under EPSDT for children. Since February 1, 2025, children in an SMMC health plan get it through their plan. Children not in a plan get it through fee-for-service.
- 8Medicaid plans with a directory
- $12.26per 15 minutes, code 97153 (2024)
- 1,713ABA providers in our Florida cities
At 40 hours a week, Florida Medicaid's technician rate comes to $1,961.60 of billed ABA, the lowest of the 6 states on this list (North Carolina: $3,329.60). Source: Agency for Health Care Administration fee schedule (2024) and North Carolina's (2026).
How to get ABA therapy through Florida Medicaid
- Get the diagnosis. A doctor or child psychologist must refer the child. The referral needs a doctor's order for behavior analysis and a full diagnostic evaluation (called a CDE) led by a licensed practitioner. A behavior assessment must also be done before therapy starts. Source: Agency for Health Care Administration.
- Find a provider that takes your plan. Use the list for your city, then check the plan's own directory below.
- The provider asks for approval. Therapy needs prior approval before it starts and again at least every 180 days. Health plans approve care for their members. The state vendor Acentra approves care for children who are not in a plan. Source: Agency for Health Care Administration [2].
- Hours are set by need. Up to 40 hours per week, as written in the approved behavior plan. Children under 21 can get more if it is medically necessary. Source: Agency for Health Care Administration.
The rules in Florida
- Programme
- Florida Medicaid (Statewide Medicaid Managed Care, or SMMC, plus fee-for-service) Source: Agency for Health Care Administration [2].
- Age limit
- Children and young adults under 21 Source: Agency for Health Care Administration.
- Who can provide it?
- A lead analyst runs the program. This can be a BCBA, a Florida certified behavior analyst, or a fully licensed mental health practitioner. A BCaBA works under a BCBA. An RBT works under a BCBA or BCaBA. Source: Agency for Health Care Administration.
- What Medicaid pays
- $12.26 per 15 minutes for technician-delivered ABA (97153), 2024 schedule. $19.17 per 15 minutes when the analyst adjusts the plan (97155). Source: Agency for Health Care Administration.
- Official page
- Behavior Analysis Services Information Source: Agency for Health Care Administration.
Medicaid plans in Florida and their provider directories
Most children on Florida 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".
- Sunshine Health Medicaid (MMA)
- Simply Healthcare Plans Medicaid (MMA)
- Humana Healthy Horizons Medicaid (MMA), Long-Term Care
- Molina Healthcare of Florida Medicaid (MMA)
- Aetna Better Health of Florida Medicaid (MMA), Long-Term Care, Florida Healthy Kids
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Medicaid (MMA), Long-Term Care; MMA print directories for Regions B, D (Tampa area) and I (Miami area)
- Community Care Plan Medicaid (MMA)
- Children's Medical Services (CMS) Health Plan Specialty plan for children under 21 with special health care needs, run by Molina
The state's own Medicaid provider search Source: Agency for Health Care Administration.
ABA therapy that accepts Medicaid in Florida, 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?"
- ABA therapy in Orlando 255 providers
- ABA therapy in Miami 1,242 providers
- ABA therapy in Tampa 216 providers