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ABA Therapy Centers in Montana

Find ABA providers in Montana, from Billings to Great Falls, and learn how Medicaid, the state autism insurance law and rural travel rules decide who approves your child's hours.

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Billings

1 ABA provider

Great Falls

1 ABA provider

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ABA therapy and autism supports in Montana

Montana Medicaid pays for ABA for children with autism through age 20, and a parent finds a Medicaid-enrolled BCBA through the state provider locator. Private group plans fall under a separate autism law that covers children 18 and younger, with annual dollar limits. Montana is large and thinly populated, so the first question is often who can reach your family, not which benefit applies. Ask each agency about its service area and its telehealth approval.

Special Needs Care Network lists 2 ABA providers serving 2 cities in Montana.

Children under 21 with Montana Medicaid can get ABA through EPSDT when the state finds it medically necessary, but each clinic has to accept your child's specific plan. Our guide to finding ABA therapy that accepts your Medicaid plan covers what to ask before you book an intake.

Medicaid ABA
Covered for members with autism through age 20 when a BCBA enrolled with Montana Medicaid delivers it.
Autism insurance law
MCA 33-22-515 requires group plans to cover children 18 and younger, with a limit of $50,000 a year through age 8 and $20,000 a year for ages 9 through 18.
Early Intervention
Montana Milestones serves infants and toddlers from birth to age three; families can refer online.
Waiver
The DDP 0208 Waiver has a waiting list, and eligibility does not depend on income.
Behavior analyst license
Montana licenses behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts under MCA 37-17-403.

Montana Medicaid ABA services

Montana Medicaid covers ABA for members with autism no older than 20, and for members found eligible for state developmental disabilities services. Any physician, licensed mental health professional, nurse practitioner or psychologist can write the referral on a provisional diagnosis. After the first 180 days, Medicaid continues services only when a qualified diagnostic professional has confirmed the diagnosis.

  • The referral must be a prescription that names the diagnosis and states the referral is for ABA services.
  • Search the state Provider Locator for a Medicaid-enrolled BCBA near you.

MCA 33-22-515 and private group plans

Montana Code 33-22-515 requires group disability policies issued or renewed in Montana to cover autism diagnosis and treatment, including applied behavior analysis, for a child 18 years of age or younger. Plans can cap treatment at $50,000 a year for a child 8 or younger and $20,000 a year for ages 9 through 18. The law also reaches the state employee plan and multiple-employer arrangements that ERISA does not regulate. Ask HR whether your plan is fully insured in Montana.

DDP 0208 Waiver and Regional Offices

The Developmental Disabilities Program runs the 0208 Waiver, the Comprehensive Services Waiver. Eligibility is not based on income, and the condition must begin before age 18. Children receiving Part C services meet a temporary at-risk standard that must become formal eligibility by age eight. DDP automatically places eligible people on the waiting list, and the department says the wait is lengthy.

  • Regional Offices sit in Glasgow, Great Falls, Billings, Helena and Missoula.
  • Satellite offices serve Miles City, Bozeman and Kalispell.
  • DDP Central Office: 406-444-2995.

Montana Milestones Early Intervention

Montana Milestones is the state's Part C program for infants and toddlers from birth to age three with significant developmental delays or a diagnosed condition linked to delay. A child qualifies with an established condition diagnosed by a physician or psychologist, or with two delays of 25 percent or one delay of 50 percent in the five developmental domains. Anyone can start with the online referral form, and you can request an evaluation at any time.

Behavior analyst licensing in Montana

Montana law bars anyone from using the title behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst without a license issued under MCA 37-17-403. That license requires current BACB certification at the matching level, a fingerprint background check and an ethics attestation. Ask a provider for the BCBA's Montana license and its Medicaid enrollment, since each is separate.

Where Montana families find ABA

ABA supply concentrates in Billings and Great Falls, with other care in Missoula, Bozeman, Helena and Kalispell. Most Montana counties are rural, so the distance to a clinic can decide the plan before coverage does. Montana Medicaid publishes a telehealth exception request for ABA, so ask any agency whether it holds one and whether it travels to your town.

Where to start in Montana

  1. Ask your pediatrician for a prescription that names the diagnosis and states the referral is for ABA services.
  2. Search the state Provider Locator for a Medicaid-enrolled BCBA, or call your private plan and ask for the autism benefit in writing.
  3. For a child under three, send the Montana Milestones online referral while you wait for a clinic intake.
  4. Contact your nearest DDP Regional Office, or call 406-444-2995, to start 0208 Waiver eligibility.

Montana ABA therapy questions

How do I get ABA through Montana Medicaid?

Ask a physician, nurse practitioner, psychologist or licensed mental health professional for a prescription that names the diagnosis and says the referral is for ABA services. Then use the state Provider Locator to find a Medicaid-enrolled BCBA. Services can start on a provisional diagnosis, but after the first 180 days Medicaid requires a confirmed diagnosis from a qualified diagnostic professional.

How much does Montana's autism insurance law pay for ABA?

A group plan can limit autism treatment to $50,000 a year for a child 8 or younger and $20,000 a year for ages 9 through 18. The law covers children 18 and younger and bars special copays or deductibles that other medical care does not carry. The plan can ask for an updated treatment plan every 6 months, so keep your BCBA's reports current.

Does Montana's autism law apply to my employer plan?

It applies to group policies delivered or renewed in Montana, the state employee plan, university system and local government plans, and multiple-employer arrangements that ERISA does not regulate. Individual policies are not listed. Plans that one employer funds itself follow federal ERISA rules instead. Ask HR whether your plan is fully insured, then request the autism benefit in writing.

Can my child get ABA by telehealth in rural Montana?

Sometimes, if the agency has state approval. Montana Medicaid publishes an ABA Services Telehealth Exception Request form, so a provider asks the state for permission to deliver ABA remotely. Ask each agency whether it holds that exception, which towns it travels to, and how it supervises a technician working in your home.

How do I get on the 0208 Waiver list for my child?

Fill out the Eligibility Determination Checklist, gather the required documents and submit them to the nearest DDP Regional Office. If your child already receives Part C services, a temporary at-risk status applies until age eight. Once DDP finds your child eligible, the program adds your child to the waiting list automatically. Your targeted case manager or the Regional Office can confirm your place.

Planning resources

Choose an autism therapy center

Questions to use when comparing clinical fit, staffing, and services.

ABA intake checklist

Bring the right coverage and clinical questions to an intake call.

ABA insurance appeal templates

Templates for requesting a clear coverage decision or review.

ABA therapy cost by state

Compare cost context and coverage questions for Montana.

Early intervention guide

How IDEA Part C services differ from clinic treatment and school services.

ABA first 30 days checklist

A practical record-keeping and communication checklist.

Autism rates by state

Federal autism-identification data by state.

Special needs schools in Montana

Explore school and educational-program options separately from therapy.

Primary sources

Last reviewed against the linked primary sources on October 18, 2026. Medicaid, CHIP, commercial insurance, self-funded employer plans, military coverage, waiver programs, and school services follow different rules. This page is general information, not legal, medical, or benefits advice.

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