When Medicaid ABA falls through, because no in-network provider has openings, hours were cut, or your child lost Medicaid, Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) is one of the few other public sources of money that can pay for ABA. It is an education scholarship, not insurance, and it comes with real trade-offs. This guide focuses on what Medicaid families need to know, and on the November 15, 2026 deadline for new 2026-27 applications.
Can FES-UA pay for ABA?
Yes. Florida Statute 1002.394(4)(b) lists "specialized services by approved providers or by a hospital in this state which are selected by the parent," and the first item on that list is "applied behavior analysis services as provided in ss. 627.6686 and 641.31098." Speech-language, occupational and physical therapy are also listed.
The statute defines an "approved provider" as "a provider approved by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, a health care practitioner as defined in s. 456.001, or a provider approved by the department pursuant to s. 1002.66." That definition matters for ABA, because Florida does not license behavior analysts: a BCBA who is not also a Department of Health-licensed practitioner may need to qualify another way. How Step Up For Students, which runs the scholarship, vets ABA agencies and RBT services is set out in its purchasing guidance, so ask Step Up and the provider before you count on a particular provider.
Does my child qualify?
From s. 1002.394(3)(b) and Step Up's 2026-27 FES-UA Family Handbook, a student generally needs to:
- be a Florida resident (or in a qualifying military family);
- be 3 or 4, or eligible for kindergarten through grade 12 (Step Up says the child must be 3 by December 31 of the application year and younger than 22 on September 1);
- have a qualifying disability, which includes autism spectrum disorder; and
- have either an IEP or a diagnosis from an eligible licensed professional. The handbook lists a Florida-licensed physician (or one licensed in another U.S. state or territory), a Florida-licensed physician assistant signing for a physician, a Florida-licensed autonomous APRN, or a Florida-licensed psychologist.
A Medicaid point to notice: Medicaid covers behavior analysis without an autism diagnosis, so some Medicaid children have no autism diagnosis on file. FES-UA's list of qualifying disabilities is broader than autism (it includes, for example, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, speech and language impairments and emotional or behavioral disability), but your child still needs an IEP or a diagnosis that fits the list. Your Medicaid Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation may help if it includes a qualifying diagnosis from an eligible professional.
The scholarship is not available to a student enrolled full time in public school, and it ends if the student enrolls full time in public school, graduates or turns 22.
What do Medicaid families give up?
Two trade-offs deserve a careful look:
- School rights. The statute says that when a student receives the scholarship, the district "is not obligated to provide the student with a free appropriate public education." Your child would have the more limited rights of a privately placed student. See FES-UA vs staying in public school.
- Medicaid ABA at school. Medicaid's BA policy requires the IEP, a 504 plan or an explanation with school-based service requests. If your child leaves public school, talk with your Medicaid BA provider about how that affects any school-based hours.
Taking the scholarship does not, by itself, end Medicaid. They are separate programs. We found no rule that bars a child from having both, but there is a limit on what the scholarship will pay for (next section).
Can FES-UA pay for ABA that Medicaid already covers?
No. Step Up's handbook says: "Products or services paid for by another agency or source (for example, health insurance, Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSAs), or a School Readiness program) may not be submitted for reimbursement." Medicaid is such a source. In practice, FES-UA is most useful for Medicaid families in situations like these:
- Your child lost Medicaid, or has a gap before other coverage starts.
- You want a provider who is not in your child's Medicaid plan network and the plan will not pay for that provider.
- You need services Medicaid does not cover. Examples from the BA policy's exclusions include a one-to-one aide or shadow, and travel time; the scholarship may have its own rules on these, so check the purchasing guide.
Read paying privately for ABA when your child has Medicaid before you use scholarship funds with a provider while your child is on Medicaid. The same questions about the provider's Medicaid status apply.
How do I apply before November 15, 2026?
- Create an account in EMA (Education Market Assistant), Step Up For Students' online platform, at stepupforstudents.org.
- Gather documents: proof of Florida residency and either the IEP or the diagnosis documentation. Step Up says you can add the medical professional's license number to speed up review; Florida licenses can be looked up on the Department of Health's license verification site.
- Submit the application by November 15, 2026. Step Up's handbook says new 2026-27 applications are accepted February 1 to November 15, 2026.
- Accept or decline by December 15, 2026. Only students found eligible and accepted on or before that date can be considered for 2026-27 funding.
- If you miss the window, 2027-28 applications are expected to open around February 1, 2027. Step Up has an interest list. See what to do before the deadline.
Awards are first-come, first-served for new students after renewals, and there is a statewide cap on funded scholarships, so applying early matters. Step Up says the award averages about $10,000 per student; the amount depends on your county, your child's grade and, if your child has an IEP, the matrix level. See FES-UA amounts by county.
How do I pay an ABA provider with FES-UA?
There are two routes in Step Up's handbook:
- Direct billing through "Find Providers" on the EMA Marketplace, which lists pre-approved vendors for services such as tutoring and therapy. Direct payment to a provider may only be approved after the service is delivered.
- Reimbursement: you pay, then submit an invoice and proof of payment. Step Up says reviews can take up to 60 days. Invoices need the provider's details and credentials; reimbursement requests for cash paid to unaffiliated private individuals, including "private therapists," are denied.
Before services start, ask any ABA provider: "Are you an approved FES-UA provider, under which route (APD, DOH-licensed practitioner or FDOE), and do you bill through EMA or give invoices for reimbursement?" Ask Step Up to confirm if you are unsure.
How Hope Center can help
Families can use FES-UA scholarship funds at Hope Center for Behavior Change toward balances left after insurance, most often BCBA supervision and parent training. Call us to confirm for your child. A child who has Medicaid cannot be seen self-pay at Hope Center (center policy), so the scholarship alone is not a way to start with us while your child has Medicaid. Your family can add employer or Marketplace insurance, which we accept, from Blue Cross Blue Shield (Florida Blue), Aetna (employer plans), Cigna (Evernorth), UMR or Personify Health, or use TRICARE East if eligible. We offer a free benefits check, a sliding scale for your share after insurance, and no waitlist. Contact us or call 561-337-8865.