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| Insurance-Funded Applied Behavior Analysis Programs: Essential Components of Empirically Supported Treatment and Corresponding Outcomes |
| Sunday, May 28, 2017 |
| 11:00 AM–11:50 AM |
| Convention Center Mile High Ballroom 4A/B |
| Area: AUT/PRA; Domain: Service Delivery |
| Chair: Valerie R. Rogers (The ABRITE Organization) |
| CE Instructor: Valerie R. Rogers, Ph.D. |
| Abstract: Since the enactment of legislation across the country, individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder have been able to access applied behavior analysis (ABA) services covered by their health insurance provider given its proven effectiveness in treating undesirable behavior and promoting skill acquisition. With insurance-funded ABA services more prevalent, variability among providers and ABA programs have appeared. Given this, a discussion of the literature highlighting the components of effective treatment programs and a description of the implementation of several of these components for ABA services will be discussed. Moreover, considerations for ABA treatment funded specifically by insurance companies will be addressed. Next, an outcome analysis for many patients enrolled in either a focused or comprehensive ABA program will be presented in relation to skills acquired and outcomes achieved with varying amounts of behavior analytic services for different types of learners. Finally, a more refined analysis of outcomes from a sample of learners will be presented and discussed in relation to many learner specific variables such as proportion of recommended treatment hours received and standardized assessment and reassessment results. |
| Instruction Level: Basic |
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| Creating Optimal Outcomes: Implementation of Empirically Supported Intervention Components in Insurance-Funded Applied Behavior Analytic Services |
| JANICE DONEY FREDERICK (The ABRITE Organization), Ginger R. Wilson (The ABRITE Organization), Valerie R. Rogers (The ABRITE Organization) |
| Abstract: The literature related to applied behavior analytic (ABA) intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder sets forth specific recommendations related to treatment and participant variables that may produce the most robust outcomes. These variables include but are not limited to the specific intervention procedures, number of treatment hours, duration of treatment, qualifications of those overseeing treatment, and caregiver involvement. With the introduction of autism insurance reform laws, a growing number of organizations are providing insurance-funded services based on the principles of behavior analysis. The degree to which organizations are adhering to the empirically validated intervention components is unclear. Furthermore, in relation to the number of organizations providing ABA services, few outcome analyses are presented in the literature. This presentation will highlight the components of effective treatment programs as suggested by the research and describe the implementation of several of these components for ABA services funded by insurance. Among other particulars, details related to the number of learners served, assessment and intervention procedures, level and type of supervision provided, training and oversight provided at all levels within the organization, and methods for evaluating outcomes will be discussed. |
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| An Examination of Outcomes for Various Types of Learners Enrolled in Insurance-Funded Behavior Analytic Programs |
| GINGER R. WILSON (The ABRITE Organization), Valerie R. Rogers (The ABRITE Organization), Samuel Garcia (The ABRITE Organization), Kinga Wolos-Zachmeier (The ABRITE Organization), Janice Doney Frederick (The ABRITE Organization) |
| Abstract: There are many research studies demonstrating the key components of behavior analytic services in order for positive outcomes to be achieved. Two of these components are the frequency and duration of intervention services, in addition to a key component of the age that intervention begins. The dilemma of ensuring these key components for clinicians and families used to be that funding for behavior analytic services was scarce and if funding did exist, restrictions made implementation of known predictors of success difficult or impossible. Increased outcome research over time secured better funding and behavior analytic services are now considered medically necessary. Despite this funding, families and clinicians still have logistical difficulties in providing the number of treatment hours recommended, possibly impacting the outcomes achieved. This presentation will focus on the outcomes that are achieved with varying amounts of behavior analytic services for different types of learners including those enrolled in either a focused or comprehensive ABA program. An analysis of the skills acquired across developmental domains and cumulative skill acquisition will be presented. The relative outcomes will be presented and the discussion will focus on sharing the best predictors of treatment outcomes that were revealed in the analysis. |
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Treatment Outcomes From Insurance Funded Applied Behavior Analysis Programs: A Closer Analysis of Individual Variables, Skill Gains, and Standardized Assessments |
| VALERIE R. ROGERS (The ABRITE Organization), Janice Doney Frederick (The ABRITE Organization), Samuel Garcia (The ABRITE Organization), Kinga Wolos-Zachmeier (The ABRITE Organization), Ginger R. Wilson (The ABRITE Organization) |
| Abstract: The utility of the empirically validated treatment practice of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in the treatment of children with autism has led to funding for such treatment by health insurance carriers in many states. The current paper will provide a refined analysis of particular learner outcome data. Specifically, outcome data for a representative sample of different learners enrolled in either a focused or comprehensive ABA insurance-funded treatment program will be presented and discussed in relation to learner specific variables. An analysis of skill acquisition data in relation to variables such as age, duration enrolled in the ABA program, proportion of recommended treatment hours received, standardized assessment and reassessment results, and treatment goals met will be presented across multiple participants. Results are discussed in terms of the potential relationship between the proportion of recommended treatment hours received and reassessment results, continued support for insurance funded ABA treatment, and difficulties and potential solutions for conflicts between the scientist-practitioner model and funding source support. The need for additional outcome analyses and future research will also be discussed. |
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