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AUTISM SERVICES

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disability that affects how people interact, talk, and act. It usually starts in early childhood and continues throughout life. The exact causes are not fully known, but people with ASD often have unique ways of learning, focusing, and processing sensory information.

What is Applied Behavior Analysis? 

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a therapy that uses the science of learning and behavior to help children with ASD. ABA uses different methods to understand why behaviors happen and to encourage positive changes.

This treatment uses evidence-based practices to focus on making meaningful changes in:

  • Communication 
  • Social interaction 
  • Repetitive/restrictive behaviors 

ABA also works to reduce challenging behaviors and helps children build skills and improve in areas such as:

  • Academic and cognitive skills 
  • Language and communication skills 
  • Attention and focus 
  • Routine following 
  • Social skills 

Every child will get a personalized plan that breaks skills into small, doable steps. ABA services can take place at home, in a clinic, or in the community. Children may learn one‑on‑one or in groups. The goal is to help each child build skills that make them more independent and successful now and in the future.

A young child with braided hair plays with wooden blocks that include red cubes with letters, while an adult in a blue shirt smiles and guides them in a bright room with shelves holding books, a soccer ball, and stuffed animals, creating a warm learning environment.
A boy in a blue shirt works on homework with an adult in a maroon shirt, counting and identifying shapes while pointing at the number 5 to show five circles.

Accessing the ASD Benefit

Step 1: Contact MCCMH 

  • To get started, call our Customer Service Department at 855-99-MCCMH (855-996-2264). We will register you in our system, check if you qualify for Medicaid services, and connect you with a clinician for a phone screening. You can also visit one of our locations to begin this process. 
  • Once the ASD screening is complete, the clinician will schedule an intake appointment with one of the following Autism Case Management Programs: 
    • Easterseals MORC  
    • Specialized Children & Family Services 
    • Hope Network  
  • If the child received ABA services in another part of Michigan, please tell the clinician so it can be documented. Also, bring a copy of any past ASD evaluations to help prepare for the intake appointment.  
  • If Medicaid insurance cannot be verified, we will refer you to your private insurance carrier or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to apply for Medicaid (if applicable). A child can access the ASD benefit only if they qualify for Medicaid.

 

Step 2: Autism Case Management Intake Appointment  

  • Attend the intake appointment to complete the Person-Centered Planning (PCP) process to create the Individualized Plan of Service (IPOS). During this process, the clinician will confirm the child’s ASD, collect records of past treatments, and set goals for services.
  • The child must have had a full medical and physical exam done by a doctor (such as a pediatrician or family doctor) within the past year. The exam should show that more testing for ASD is needed. It must also confirm that hearing and vision have been checked and are not causing the child’s ASD symptoms. You need to bring documentation of this exam to the intake appointment. If you don’t have it, the exam must be provided before your child can be scheduled for an ASD evaluation. 
  • Make sure to bring all paperwork to your intake appointment, including the following:
    • Medical exams 
    • Neurological and diagnostic reports 
    • Mental health treatment recommendations 
    •  School/academic reports 
    •  Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) 
    • 504 plans 
  • After the intake process is finished, the child will be given a case manager. The case manager will help you get an ASD diagnostic evaluation.
  • If you have both private insurance and Medicaid, the case manager will help you get an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) and follow the steps for testing and ABA services through private insurance. Please note that private insurance is the primary payer, and Medicaid is considered the payer of last resort. 

 

Questions about the Medicaid ASD Benefit?

Contact Janet Marra, Autism Clinical Coordinator

[email protected]

 

Additional Resources

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