Association for Behavior Analysis International

Behavior analysts, psychologists, and other behavioral health professionals have an obligation to provide clinically sound, effective, individualized, and appropriate treatment and intervention. For many individuals, access to such services requires review and determination by third-parties and managed care organizations. It is the ethical responsibility of behavior analysts, psychologists, other behavioral health professionals to advocate for the resources necessary to adequately meet their client’s needs, which often means securing authorizations from these funding sources. However, there can easily be a risk of blurring the ethical line between advocacy and integrity. This panel will discuss common pitfalls and challenges toward accurately and effectively advocating for clients, keeping in line with all aspects of the Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for the BACB and the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Guidance in preparing authorization requests will be addressed, as well as aspects that commonly hinder approvals, and suggested approaches toward navigating potential appeals.

Attendees should have a minimum experience of developing behavior intervention plans and submitting them to third party payers for treatment authorization.