Association for Behavior Analysis International

Behavior analysts engaged in public policy advocacy do so with the intended purpose of improving socially significant behavior for those we serve. Public policy advocacy has not been a part of most behavior analysts’ formal training. However, some behavior analysts have realized that international, national, state, and local public policy impacts the way applied behavior analytic (ABA) services are delivered and contributes to the betterment of society more generally. Behavior analysts have addressed policies that affect the provision of behavior analytic services and those related to issues that make the world a better place for all people. Across the world, behavior analysts are meeting with legislators to educate them on behavior analytic solutions to societal problems. Incorporating a behavior analytic perspective into policies supports best practices in many areas and can create a more humane, reinforcing environment for all. This symposium highlights four contributions to the special section in Behavior Analysis in Practice on Public Policy Advocacy and sheds light on the public policy advocacy efforts related to the practice of behavior analysis that have occurred across a variety of jurisdictions and settings, and have promoted macro level policy changes that benefit society more generally.

The target audience is intermediate. It is helpful for attendees to have competence in foundational knowledge related to behavior analytic concepts, principles, and theory

Widespread insurance funding of applied behavior analysis (ABA) as a medically necessary mental health benefit in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has placed behavior analysts in the role of health care providers. Behavior analysts who work with insurance and/or Medicaid have increasingly encountered payor guidelines that interfere with their efforts to implement treatment plans that reflect generally accepted standards of care. When these arbitrary limits are integrated into ABA practices, payors–not science–are shaping ABA. Many common payor guidelines, such as location exclusions, caregiver participation requirements, and age and hour limits, violate the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). For the first time since MHPAEA became law, federal agencies are scrutinizing payor guidelines and practices through the lens of MHPAEA and working to increase compliance. In this new climate of MHPAEA enforcement, behavior analysts are uniquely positioned to identify, reject, and report improper guidelines that constrain their ABA practices and promote best practices to optimize patient outcomes. This review of MHPAEA in the context of ABA highlights common violations and current advocacy and aims to equip behavior analysts with the tools to free their practices from improper limits.

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