ABA Startup Success 101 | Making Compliance Your Best Friend

by ravenhealth | Sep 13, 2024 | Blogs

Raven Health recently hosted a webinar titled ‘Making Compliance Your Best Friend.’ In this session, Tim Crilly, BCBA, chats with Rebecca Womack, BCBA, on the crucial topic of compliance in ABA therapy. Womack, President and CEO of Raw Consulting, shared invaluable insights on how new and growing ABA practices can navigate the often daunting world of compliance.

Key Takeaways: Proactive Compliance Strategies
Womack emphasizes that compliance isn’t just about following rules – it’s about safeguarding the practice and ensuring the highest standards of care for clients. She discusses common pitfalls that ABA providers face, such as misunderstandings about CPT codes and the importance of accurate documentation. “Most people don’t realize they’re making mistakes until it’s too late,” Womack noted, highlighting the necessity of proactive compliance measures.

Building a Robust Compliance Program
Womack also stresses the importance of a robust compliance program, even for smaller practices, to prevent costly mistakes and maintain strong relationships with payers. “Assuming you’re compliant without double-checking can lead to significant business and clinical implications,” Womack warned.

Final Thoughts
To dive deeper into these insights and learn practical tips for implementing effective compliance strategies in your own practice, it is highly recommended to watch the full interview. Womack’s expertise can help ensure that your practice is not only compliant but also positioned for long-term success.

Interested in learning more? Watch the free, full webinar below:

Click here to watch the webinar!

ABA Startup Success 101 | The Do’s & Don’ts of Credentialing

by ravenhealth | Sep 11, 2024 | Blogs

In this Raven Health webinar, Tim Crilly sat down with Matt Zabolotny, founder and managing principal at exydoc, to discuss effective strategies for contracting and credentialing in ABA practices. Credentialing can be daunting, especially for new practice owners, and Matt provided invaluable tips for navigating this process smoothly.

Key Takeaways: Credentialing & Contracting
Matt emphasized the importance of identifying the largest insurers in your state and starting with those networks. Focus on becoming in-network with a handful of major payers to maximize revenue without overwhelming your billing processes. Matt also warned against relying solely on being out-of-network, as it can create financial complications for both your practice and your clients.

Stay Persistent
Credentialing timelines vary from 30 to 120 days depending on the insurer, so Matt encouraged new business owners to start as early as possible. He stressed the importance of persistent follow-up – networks can open unexpectedly, and checking in frequently can pay off.

Mistakes to Avoid
One of the most common mistakes Matt sees is failing to collect client financial responsibilities. For private insurance clients, it’s crucial to set up systems to track co-pays and deductibles – failing to do so can drastically impact your revenue.

Final Thoughts
Credentialing is essential for getting paid, and missteps can lead to denied claims and lost revenue. For new ABA practice owners, Matt recommends getting help when needed and focusing on becoming in-network with key insurers to secure a stable financial footing.

Interested in learning more? Watch the free, full webinar below:

Click here to watch the webinar.

ABA Startup Success 101 | No Margin, No Mission – Building Out Your Team for Success

by ravenhealth | Sep 2, 2024 | Blogs

In the latest Raven Health webinar, Tim Crilly sat down with consultant Ivy Zwicker, who shared her insights on how ABA practice owners can successfully grow their teams while ensuring financial health. With over a decade of experience in the ABA industry, Ivy’s expertise helps businesses navigate the challenges of sustainable growth.

Key Takeaways: Financial Health & Growth
Ivy introduced the concept of ‘No Margin, No Mission,’ emphasizing the importance of maintaining financial stability to keep the mission of helping families alive. While passion drives ABA practices, the financial component ensures longevity. Ivy recommended performing a market analysis when expanding into new areas, ensuring that there is not only client demand, but also enough RBTs and BCBAs to support your services.

Understanding Rates & Caseload Management
Ivy highlighted the importance of knowing payer rates and managing caseload metrics. Understanding your reimbursement rates—especially for core services like 97153 and 97155 – is critical to sustaining a healthy business. Additionally, Ivy discussed the need for tracking growth carefully to avoid overstaffing, which could lead to financial strain.

Data-Driven Decisions for Growth
Ivy stressed the importance of tracking metrics like authorization utilization and average billable hours. She explained how maintaining data dashboards allows ABA owners to make informed decisions about when to hire more staff and how to optimize their existing teams for both financial and operational success.

Balancing Growth and Client Needs
It’s essential to balance client growth with workforce management. Ivy advised owners to carefully analyze their client demographics and ensure they are strategically filling gaps in their caseloads, particularly during underutilized hours, such as mornings and early afternoons.

Final Thoughts
For ABA practice owners, Ivy’s advice centers around being realistic with your business growth, tracking the right data, and ensuring financial health from day one.

Interested in learning more? Watch the full, free webinar below:


Click here to watch the webinar.

ABA Startup Success 101: How to Get Your Practice Started

by ravenhealth | Aug 30, 2024 | Blogs

In a recent Raven Health webinar, Tim Crilly hosted John and Jill Jacobson of J2Jacobson Consulting to share essential advice for starting an ABA practice. Drawing from decades of experience, they offered valuable insights for professionals transitioning from employee to practice owner.

Key Considerations Before Starting
The Jacobson’s emphasized the importance of evaluating your motivations. Jill warned that starting an ABA practice isn’t a quick escape from frustration, but a significant commitment. Financial preparedness is critical – Jill advised, “Don’t quit your day job,” stressing the importance of having a strong financial plan and consulting experts beyond ABA clinicians.

Strategic Startup Planning
John and Jill stressed the importance of defining your service model – home-based, center-based, school-based, or hybrid – and understanding your market. John pointed out that different regions have varying demands for ABA services, so it’s vital to research and plan accordingly.

Financial Management & Growth
A key takeaway was the need for a detailed financial budget and hiring plan. Understanding your break-even point and having a growth strategy in place is essential for long-term success. Jill highlighted the need for smart decisions, especially when scaling from home to center-based services.

Systems & Retention
Implementing the right systems at the right time is crucial for managing a growing practice. John also emphasized the importance of staff retention, noting high turnover rates among RBTs. Creating a supportive environment where staff feel valued is key to sustaining your practice.

Final Thoughts
For those considering starting their ABA practice, the Jacobsons highly encourage seeking expert advice and planning strategically for success.

Interested in learning more? Watch the full, free webinar below:


Click here to watch the webinar.

Embracing the New School Year: A Guide to a Successful Transition

by Mary Kate Garcia | Aug 14, 2024 | Blogs

As the end of the summer approaches, families are gearing up for the transition back to school. For many children, starting fresh with a new teacher, classroom, and routines is exciting.  However, for those with developmental delays, returning to school can be challenging and require special considerations. 

Preparing for a Successful Transition

For many children with developmental delays, routines, and predictability are essential for managing daily life.  Some strategies to assist in a smooth transition back to school include:

• Social Stories and Visual Schedules: Using personal narratives and visual schedules can help prepare your child for new experiences and routines by explaining what to expect clearly and visually.
• Gradual Transition: If possible, gradually introduce new end-of-summer routines. For example, introduce your before-school home routine. This may include waking up, brushing teeth, eating breakfast, getting dressed, etc. Practicing new routines will help minimize anxiety and provide time to adjust. 
• Communication with Teachers: Establish open lines of communication with teachers and related service providers.  Sharing insights into your child’s preferences, triggers, and strengths can facilitate a supportive school experience, where understanding is met. 
• Spend Time At School: A couple of weeks before school starts, visit the campus. Some teachers may be available for a meet-and-greet, where your child can visit their new classroom and meet their teacher. If the school has a playground, allow your child to explore and acclimate to the environment through playtime activities. 
• Dress Rehearsal: New shoes? New clothes?  For individuals with sensory issues, a new wardrobe may take time to adjust to.  Break in new shoes and clothing a couple of weeks before school begins to allow your child time to adapt to new and different textures.  Depending on how much routine your child needs, it may also be beneficial to use a new lunchbox or backpack several times before the first day of school.

As schools reopen, it’s crucial to recognize how to best support your child. Preparing for this transition will ease anxiety and promote positive school experiences. Let’s make this school year one of learning, understanding, and compassion!

Sunshine Adventures: Exploring Summer Sensory Activities!

by Mary Kate Garcia | Jul 17, 2024 | Blogs

Looking for ways to enrich your child’s cognitive, physical, and emotional growth during these long summer days?  One of the most effective ways to do so is through tactile sensory play!  Here are some summer-friendly sensory play ideas made easy with things from around your house, thoughtfully curated by an ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Educator.

Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Materials: Muffin tin or cups, paint brushes/sponges/foam brushes, cornstarch, water, liquid food coloring

Instructions: Mix equal parts cornstarch and water and whisk smooth.  Divide the mixture into cups or a muffin tin.  Use one small drop of food coloring to color the individual containers. Then, use paint brushes, sponges, or foam brushes to paint onto sidewalks.

Ocean Oobleck

Materials: cornstarch, water, pan, measuring cup, blue food coloring, ocean animal toys

Instructions: Mix two cups of cornstarch with one cup of water. Add a few drops of blue food coloring when the mixture is partially combined. Add your ocean animals and see how fast they can swim!

DIY Moon Sand (Taste Safe)

Materials: Flour (or rice flour for gluten-free), coconut, canola, or vegetable oil, pan, sand/water toys

Instructions: Mix eight cups of flour with one cup of oil. Combine ingredients until the mixture feels silky and sandy but will hold shape if you squeeze it. Now, go ahead and build a sandcastle!

Ice Cream Sensory Bin (Taste Safe)

Materials: rainbow sprinkles, container, ice cream toys such as an ice cream scoop, spoons, cupcake liners, ice cream cones (real or pretend), and any other ice cream-type tools you have on hand

Instructions: Fill a bin with rainbow sprinkles and ice cream toys. Have fun scooping ice cream!

Incorporating tactile sensory activities into your child’s day nurtures their overall development by engaging their senses.  These activities can be done indoors or outdoors. So grab those materials to whip up hours of summer fun!