Monthly Newsletter - January 2025
Summary of the Month
January brought acquisitions, significant Medicaid proposals, legal developments, and a host of new ABA center openings. Highlighted stories include Already Autism Health’s expansion, a mix of policy changes in states like Indiana and Nebraska, notable lawsuits over reimbursement, and major steps forward in autism research—particularly around AI and new therapeutic approaches. Below is a categorized roundup of January news.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) News
Investments, Acquisitions and Reorganizations
Already Autism Health Acquires C.A.B.S. Autism and Behavior Specialists, Commonwealth ABA
Summary: Already Autism Health announced back-to-back acquisitions of C.A.B.S. (operating in Illinois and Georgia) and Commonwealth ABA, continuing its multi-state expansion. The acquisitions underscore ongoing sector consolidation.
Source: GlobeNewswire (Feb. 3, 2025), Behavioral Health Business
Acorn Health Closes Sites, Restructures Management
Summary: The Florida-based ABA provider consolidated or shut down about five clinics, citing resource optimization.
Source: Behavioral Health Business
New Center Openings
Caravel Autism Health Opens NW Indiana Clinic
- Summary: Caravel launched a clinic in Dyer, Indiana, primarily serving younger children. The move follows the company’s broader effort to meet demand across the Midwest.
- Source: PR Newswire
Bayada Home Health Care Launches Autism Campus in New Jersey
- Summary: A new center in Wall, NJ, offers ABA therapy, along with in-home and community-based support for children on the autism spectrum. The stated objective is to lessen wait times in a state with a high rate of autism.
- Sources: Asbury Park Press, Home Health Care News
Lighthouse Autism Center Expands in Indiana, Nebraska
- Summary: Lighthouse announced new clinics in Hobart and La Porte, Indiana, plus South Sioux City, Nebraska. Each site will serve about 25 families to meet demand for ABA services in the region.
- Sources: GlobeNewswire, Manila Times
Regulatory News
Indiana Medicaid Proposes Limits on ABA
- Summary: State officials presented plans for a 30-hour weekly limit and a three-year lifetime cap on ABA coverage, citing surging costs and federal oversight. Families and providers fear it could disrupt therapy continuity.
- Sources: WISH-TV; Behavioral Health Business
Nebraska Introduces ABA “Guardrails”
- Summary: Nebraska DHHS set new coverage rules after ABA spending skyrocketed by 1,000%. The guidelines define hour limits and medical necessity thresholds intended to curb ballooning costs.
- Source: Nebraska Examiner
Connecticut Licensing Gaps for ABA Clinics
- Summary: A recent report shows that no single agency in Connecticut formally licenses or regulates ABA clinics, raising questions about consistent quality standards.
- Source: New Haven Register
Two Connecticut Residents Charged With $1.8M Medicaid Fraud
- Summary: Federal prosecutors allege the pair billed Medicaid for ABA services not rendered. They face charges of health care fraud and conspiracy.
- Sources: U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Hartford Courant
Research
Autistic Job Candidates Benefit From Disclosure, Employer Training
- Summary: A study in Molecular Autism finds that telling interviewers about an autism diagnosis, combined with neurodiversity training, can boost hiring outcomes, despite lower social-interaction ratings.
- Source: Molecular Autism
University of Kansas Develops AI-Enhanced VR
- Summary: A KU team secured a $2.5 million grant to merge extended reality with AI, improving how children with autism learn social and communication skills.
- Source: Scienmag
CIRM Funds UCSD ‘Verge Center’ for Autism, Schizophrenia Study
- Summary: A $12.5 million grant backs stem cell-based investigations into shared genetic pathways of ASD and schizophrenia, potentially aiding new drug target discoveries.
- Source: CIRM
Other News
TRICARE West Outages Disrupt Provider Payments
- Summary: Major tech failures at TriWest Healthcare Alliance have created backlog in claims and prior authorizations. Some ABA providers report severe financial strain and are reducing TRICARE appointments.
- Source: Behavioral Health Business
ABA Centers of America Files Lawsuit Over Payment Delays
- Summary: In a suit against Point32Health (Harvard Pilgrim), ABA Centers of America alleges a year-long delay on authorized claims. The provider claims thousands of sessions remain pending, threatening operational viability.
- Source: PR Newswire
Air Canada, Emirates Promote Autism-Friendly Travel
- Summary: Air Canada joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program for discreet assistance, while Emirates became the first airline to receive formal autism certification.
- Sources: Travel & Tour World, TripZilla
Related Mental Health News
In the broader mental health sector Quartet Health was acquired by NeuroFlow in a deal following Quartet’s tele-psychiatry divestiture, PAX Health acquired Harris Psychiatric Services, Slingshot AI raised $40 million for its mental health chatbot, and Eleos netted $60 million to expand AI-based clinical documentation. Analysts forecast continued investment in mental 1. health into 2025, reflecting enduring optimism about the sector’s growth potential.
Embark Behavioral Health restructured its executive team to flatten leadership, and a brief federal funding freeze attempt—along with Medicaid portal outages—spotlighted systemic vulnerabilities for providers.
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Best regards,
The Bixpli Team