I support the comments made by the Virginia Ability Alliance. I would like to make a comment based on my experience as a Medicaid ABA provider (in another state) that works very well. Our company is based in Virginia and I would like to see Virginia adopt a similar model. I suggest that the tiered model used by private insurance companies and other state Medicaid programs replace the sole BCBA provider model currently in use in Virginia.

In a tiered model, clients receive ABA services from a team of RBT's (Registered Behavior Technicians) under the direct supervision of a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst). The cost of an RBT is much less than that of a BCBA. The BCBA will be responsible for the close ongoing supervision of RBTs. This may be cost-effective and allow for more direct services for our clients. We would be happy to sit down and discuss the tiered model in more detail at any time!

M.S. BCBA Perry Olson