Behavioral Health Center of Excellence announced a strategic partnership with Centene Corporation that will research and advance continuous improvement in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) treatment delivery and support access to quality services for people on the autism spectrum and related developmental disabilities. This partnership brings together BHCOE's quality measurement expertise as the international standards developer and accreditor for ABA therapy organizations with Centene's commitment to delivering integrated, high-quality, and cost-effective services for some of the nation's most vulnerable populations. This research collaboration will help better assess treatment outcomes and quality of care through formalized measurements of ABA services.

These measures will allow benchmarking of national healthcare quality standards for behavioral health that aim to improve quality and efficiency. They will also be foundational in delivering ABA services within a value-based care framework. This partnership comes at a critical time for ensuring access to quality ABA services.

Recent findings from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network found a higher prevalence of autism in children than ever before. In its latest report, the CDC states an estimated 18% increase in children identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from 2016 to 2018. As ABA represents more than half of all healthcare services that individuals on the autism spectrum receive, these measures are urgently needed to develop accessible, comprehensive ABA solutions that meet member needs while assuring quality care.