Some autistic children split their year between Florida and another state. A family might spend winters in Florida and summers up north, a parent might work seasonally in two places, or parents might live in different states under a custody arrangement. ABA works best with consistent goals, consistent strategies and regular sessions, so moving back and forth raises practical questions: who provides therapy in each place, whether insurance will pay for it, whether a provider can keep working with your child across state lines, and how both parents stay on the same page. This guide compares the main options and the rules that shape them.
What are the options for keeping ABA consistent across two states?
| Option | How it works | Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| One provider, pause while away | Your child receives ABA in one state and takes a break in the other | Simple; one team; one authorization | Skills may slip during long breaks; restart paperwork if the gap is long |
| Two providers, one in each state | A provider in Florida and another in the other state, each with its own plan | In-person therapy all year | Two assessments, two authorizations; goals and methods can drift apart; some insurers limit overlapping providers |
| One provider plus telehealth parent coaching while away | Direct sessions in one state, BCBA coaching of parents by video in the other | Same BCBA and goals all year | Licensing and telehealth rules in the other state; insurer telehealth coverage; works best when parents can practice daily |
| Coordinated handoff | Each provider shares the plan, data and strategies with the other at each move, with your written consent | Continuity of goals and language | Takes planning and consent forms; providers must agree to coordinate |
The right choice depends on how long you spend in each state, your insurance, and how your child handles change. Our guide to telehealth ABA parent coaching explains what remote coaching can and cannot do. Many families end up combining options: in-person ABA in the state where they spend most of the year and parent coaching or a second provider in the other.
Can a Florida BCBA keep working with my child in another state?
It depends on the other state. Florida does not issue a state license for behavior analysts; the credential to look for here is certification from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), which Florida law recognizes (s. 393.17, Florida Statutes). Many other states are different. The BACB keeps a list of U.S. states that have passed laws to license or otherwise regulate behavior analysts, and it tells behavior analysts working in those states to apply for licensure or confirm they are exempt.
So if you spend part of the year in a state that licenses behavior analysts, a Florida BCBA providing services to your child while your child is located there, even by video, may need to meet that state's rules. Ask the provider directly: "Are you allowed to provide services, including telehealth parent coaching, while we are in [state]?"
Can an out-of-state provider keep working with my child in Florida?
Florida's telehealth law, s. 456.47, Florida Statutes, defines a "telehealth provider" to include people licensed or certified under s. 393.17 (behavior analysts) and people licensed under chapters 490 and 491 (psychologists, clinical social workers and counselors). It also lets a health care professional who is not licensed in Florida register as an out-of-state telehealth provider if they hold an active, unencumbered license in another state that is "substantially similar" to a Florida license and meet other conditions. Registered out-of-state providers may not open an office in Florida or see Florida patients in person.
How these rules apply to a BCBA based in another state is a legal question that depends on the details, partly because Florida certifies rather than licenses behavior analysts. If your out-of-state provider wants to keep seeing your child while you are in Florida, ask them how they are authorized to do so, and check with your insurance plan too. A Florida attorney or the provider's own compliance team can answer the legal question; we cannot answer it for a specific case.
How does insurance handle two states?
Insurance is often the biggest hurdle. Points to check with your plan, in writing:
- Networks. Is there an in-network ABA provider in both states, or will one be out of network? Our guide to in-network versus out-of-network ABA explains the cost difference.
- Authorizations. ABA is usually authorized for a specific provider, a number of hours and a period of time (often about six months). A second provider generally needs its own assessment and authorization.
- Overlapping providers. Some payers restrict two ABA agencies at once. Evernorth's (Cigna's) ABA coverage policy, for example, covers services from multiple ABA agencies in the same authorization period only under strict conditions.
- Telehealth. Ask whether parent training by telehealth is covered, and whether it is covered when your child is located in another state.
- Which law applies. Florida's autism insurance law covers plans issued in Florida that are state regulated. Self-funded employer plans follow federal law and their own plan documents instead. Our guide to fully insured versus self-funded plans explains how to tell.
- Treatment breaks. Some payers want a new standardized assessment after a long break in treatment. Evernorth's policy, for example, asks for one after a break longer than 60 days.
Military families who move between TRICARE regions have their own rules. See our guide to the TRICARE Autism Care Demonstration in Florida.
What about split custody between two states?
When parents live in different states, consistency depends on both households, and consent rules come into play.
- Read the parenting plan. Under Florida law, shared parental responsibility means major decisions about the child's welfare are made jointly (s. 61.046). A court can also give one parent ultimate responsibility for certain areas, such as health care or education (s. 61.13). Many ABA providers ask for the parenting plan at intake and want both parents' consent when responsibility is shared.
- Records. Florida law gives either parent access to the child's medical, dental and school records unless a court order restricts it (s. 61.13). Ask both providers to send progress reports to both parents if the plan allows.
- Same words, same steps. Ask the BCBA for a one-page summary of current goals, the words and visuals used, and how to respond to common behaviors, so both homes can use them.
- Handoff routines. Transitions between homes can be hard. A visual calendar showing which home is next, and a familiar item that travels with your child, often help.
Our guide to co-parenting and ABA consent in Florida goes into more detail. For a specific custody question, talk to a Florida family law attorney.
How do I set up a handoff between two providers?
- Sign releases so both providers can share records and talk to each other.
- Ask for a transition summary before each move: current goals, recent data, what is working, and any safety plan.
- Schedule a call between the two BCBAs if possible, ideally before your child arrives.
- Bring your own copy of the latest treatment plan and progress report.
- Plan the schools too. If your child changes schools, an IEP from one state does not move automatically. See our guide to keeping your child's IEP when moving schools.
- Keep parent training going in whichever state you are in, so you are not starting over each time.
How can Hope Center help?
Hope Center for Behavior Change provides ABA in Florida, in homes, schools, daycares and the community, with centers in West Palm Beach, Temple Terrace, Port Charlotte, Jacksonville and Sebring. Every program is written by a BCBA and reviewed by our clinical director, and parents are trained weekly. If your family spends part of the year outside Florida, tell us at intake so we can talk through scheduling, records sharing with another provider, and what your plan covers. Parent training and BCBA supervision can be done by telehealth, though we prefer in person; RBT sessions are always in person. We work with Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East, and offer self-pay with a sliding scale. Contact us or call 561-337-8865 for a free consultation and a free benefits check, or see our insurance page.