Membership Benefits
There are multiple benefits to becoming a member of the Kentucky Association for Behavior Analysis.
- Reduced registration fees for KYABA conferences, workshops, and CEU credits
- Notifications about Continuing Education opportunities
- Eligibility for chapter adjunct membership in the Association for Behavior Analysis International
- Up-to-date information and opportunities related to ABA services in Kentucky, including
- legislative, billing, and practice issues
- Opportunities to nominate recipients for annual KYABA awards
- Participate on KYABA committees (e.g., Awards Committee, Membership Committee, etc.)
- Recognition at conferences for contributions to KYABA including years of membership
- Vote on organizational business, including KYABA bylaws and its mission (Full Members only)
- Opportunities to hold office on the KYABA Executive Committee (Full Members only)
ABA Advocates
Bart Baldwin, Executive Director
bart@netbbc.com
(502) 320-1143
Sarah Kidder, Director of Policy & Research
sarah@netbbc.com
512) 423-1749
Purpose: To impact public policy decisions, payment rates and contracting methods, (Commercial Plans and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations), state regulations, state law and state funding to benefit the members of ABA Advocates and the children and families they serve. Also, to promote the ABA profession to government and community stakeholders.
ABA Advocates:
- Is a 501(C) 6 trade association
- Lobbies, educates and advocates on behalf of members
- Assists members with business strategy and development
- Provides networking opportunities with fellow ABA providers
What ABA Advocates Members can expect:
- Focus on achieving appropriate rates and contracts with:
- Commercial Insurance Plans
- Medicaid for BHSOs, Provider Groups (MSG), School Based Funding
- Medicaid Waiver Programs such as SCL, Michelle P, Acquired Brain Injury
- Direct Lobbying to Key Decision Makers with:
- Commercial Insurance Plans and their Government Relations Teams
- Medicaid Managed Care Organizations
- Cabinet for Health and Family Services
- Department for Medicaid Services
- Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities
- Department of Education
- Department of Insurance
- KY ABA Licensing Board
- Governor’s Office
- KY State Legislature
- Provide Government Affairs Consultation to include:
- Political strategy
- Public policy priority development
- Policy/Contracting research and analysis
- Grassroots advocacy development
- Training on effective advocacy and lobbying
- Work with media
What is expected of ABA Advocates Members:
- Be an active participant in ABA Advocates meetings, activities, etc.
- Be an advocate and build relationships with your elected officials
- Maintain confidentiality of information intended for ABA Advocates only
- Share information within your organization and network (action alerts, etc.)
Dues:
- Under 20 Clients - $200/month $2400/yr
- 21 to 75 Clients - $400/month $4800/yr
- 76 and over - $600/month $7200/yr
Past Successes:
- Passage of HB 159 in 2010 - Autism Insurance Mandate & Established Licensing Board
- Setting up Licensing requirement to match BCBA requirements
- Passage of Updated Insurance Mandate in 2018 - removed all caps and limits
- Medicaid’s change in policy to no longer require a provider to be a BHSO in order to provide the full ABA model.
Current efforts:
- Reversal of Anthem proposed rate cut
- Establishment & support of workgroup with Anthem regarding Value Based Contracting
- KY Medicaid - increasing ABA CPT Code rates & correcting Medicaid Fee Schedule
- Revisions to the BHSO, Provider Group (MSG) and telehealth Medicaid regulations
- Medicaid Home and Community Based Waivers Redesign (Michelle P, SCL, ABI)