Are you a parent seeking a developmental assessment or autism evaluation for your child? Or did you try to have your child start ABA therapy but ran into insurance issues due to an incomplete assessment? Whatever your situation, starting the journey to support your child’s development can be stressful, overwhelming, and confusing. But you are taking the right steps in seeking help for your child – and you! That is why we want to provide you with information on our autism evaluation process. Here is a detailed breakdown of how it works.
Where do you start with an Autism Evaluation?
Maybe you are concerned about your child’s development, or your pediatrician is recommending an evaluation due to signs of communication and developmental delays. Whatever the reason, it can be confusing to know where to start. In order to access the most common therapies for autism (such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech or occupational therapies), most insurance companies require an evaluation that includes a series of standardized assessments. Additionally, they need a report with the data of those assessments to support a concluding diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. These evaluations are typically performed by a qualified psychologist or neuropsychologist. It’s important to note that most insurance plans require something more than a simple neurologist diagnosis; neurologists do not use the standardized assessments insurance companies look for.
How long does it take to complete an autism evaluation?
The overall evaluation process at Healing Haven is typically completed within 8 weeks. It consists of three appointments which total roughly six hours altogether (depending on the child’s age and level of skill.) The turnaround time from the first appointment to receiving the final report averages about one to two months but can vary depending on what facility you select to perform the testing.
The wait to schedule the assessment appointments is generally the biggest issue. Many facilities that specialize in autism evaluations have waitlists of several months or up to a year. But time is precious when it comes to a child’s development. Those several months can make a huge difference when it comes to receiving therapy supports and interventions.
One of the most impactful things you can do as a parent is obtain a clearer understanding of your child’s struggles. At Healing Haven, we try to keep all evaluations–from the time parents contact us to when they receive results–under three months. This way, if intervention is necessary, your child can access it as soon as possible.
What happens during an autism evaluation?
Our autism evaluation and developmental testing process is typically divided into three appointments. At Healing Haven, these appointments occur are after you complete the initial intake paperwork and questionnaire.
First Appointment
During the first appointment, a parent or guardian meets with the clinician either virtually or in person. They will discuss background information, family history, and any concerns regarding their child’s development. This typically takes about two hours.
Second Appointment
The second appointment, lasting about three hours, involves the direct assessment of the child and occurs in-person at Healing Haven. The clinician utilizes several standardized assessment tools to gather objective data on the child’s skills and their behaviors. The clinician will use this data to reflect the child’s developmental progression in comparison to other children of the same age.
Third Appointment
After these two first meetings, the clinician compiles all the information gathered into a report. In the third and final meeting, the clinician goes over the report with the parent(s)/guardian(s). Based on data and historical information, this hour-long meeting will specify whether a child may fall within the criteria of Autism Spectrum Disorder. If the child does not meet the criteria, parents and guardians may learn if something else is going on that better addresses their concerns (e.g. speech delay, learning impairment, anxiety, etc.)
Whether your child is on the spectrum or not, a developmental assessment provides a detailed evaluation of your child’s current level of skill and developmental status. A developmental assessment identifies factors contributing to your child’s difficulties, rules out diagnoses that may mislead treatment, and provides you with direction to address your child’s specific needs.
A developmental assessment identifies factors contributing to your child’s difficulties, rules out diagnoses that may mislead treatment, and provides you with direction to address your child’s specific needs.
What to look for in an Autism Evaluation Provider
The most important question to ask a facility offering evaluations is, “If my child is diagnosed, will this report unlock insurance covered ABA services?” You are embarking on a lengthy process. So you are entitled to all the necessary information to access insurance covered services if needed. Make sure you know which questions to ask of your insurance provider to understand exactly what your plan requires for ABA services.
However, many facilities that offer autism evaluations are unaware of the specific insurance requirements for ABA services. As a result, many testing facilities may be honest in saying that they can provide an autism evaluation but are unsure if insurance to cover ABA services will accept the type of evaluation they provide.
At Healing Haven, we’ve had countless families who had their child previously evaluated, but then found their diagnostic report was missing components insurance requires. Thankfully, some insurance companies are lenient and allow us to fill in the missing components. Other times, too many components were missing, requiring an evaluation re-do. Obviously this is time consuming and costly. It is also a significant barrier to receiving services. So again, do your best to make sure that what the testing facility offers will be sufficient for your insurance.
What about insurance coverage for developmental testing & autism evaluations?
Healing Haven is in network with most major private insurance providers in Michigan for developmental testing and autism evaluations. We accept: Blue Cross Blue Shield (Michigan and out of state), Blue Care Network, Priority Health, HAP, Aetna, Cigna and United Healthcare / UMR.
An Important Note about BCBS/BCN of Michigan
Many families in our area have insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan or Blue Care Network of Michigan. For Michigan BCBS/BCN members it is important to know that they have changed their evaluation requirements. BCBS is no longer mandating an autism evaluation be done by one of their Approved Autism Evaluation Centers (AAEC). The AAECs are spread throughout the state, but unfortunately can have long waitlists – sometimes up to 12 months or more. BCBS of Michigan/BCN will accept an autism evaluation from a qualified psychologist or neuropsychologist if the report meets their standards. Our Diagnostic team has completed hundreds of autism evaluations that meet BCBS/BCN’s standards.
Are you ready to take the next step?
We understand how time-consuming and overwhelming the autism evaluation process can be as you strive to get support for your child. But we are here for you and you are not alone in this journey. If you have questions or want to start the developmental testing or autism evaluation process, please reach out to us today!