ABAI Joins the ABA Coding Coalition
More than a decade ago, ABAI initiated the effort to secure the first billing codes for applied behavior analysis — the foundation that facilitated insurance billing of ABA services. Today we're writing with news that builds directly on that work: ABAI is joining the ABA Coding Coalition, bringing the two entities that shape ABA billing codes together under one roof. Going forward, the ABA Coding Coalition will be comprised of representatives from ABAI, the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA), the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), and the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP).
Before we look ahead, we want to recognize how we arrived here. Over the past seven years, the ABA Billing Codes Commission has achieved remarkable milestones — expanding access to care through telehealth and, most recently, co-authoring the successful Code Change Application that secured new billing codes for adaptive behavior. These outcomes reflect the dedication of Commission members, whose work on behalf of the field has left an indelible mark.
Although the ABA Billing Codes Commission emerged from a division of the Steering Committee in 2019, new leadership across participating organizations has created an opportunity to reunite the two billing code entities — something ABAI has long believed best serves the field. To that end, ABAI is dissolving the ABA Billing Codes Commission and joining the Coding Coalition, where ABAI will be represented by Dr. Maria Malott and Julie Kornack.
We have no doubt that our unified efforts will be the best thing for the field. There is important work ahead: in the coming months we will be sharing information about the new codes and the changes taking effect in 2027, and we look forward to guiding the field through this transition together.