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10 Best ABA Therapy Providers in Memphis, TN (2026)

Compare 10 ABA providers serving Memphis. Explore the full ranked list and find a provider that feels right for your child.

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Hopebridge clinician and child engaged in a therapy activity.
5

Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center - East Memphis

Listed
Memphis, TNAges 1-9

Children come to Hopebridge's East Memphis center at 2233 Lynnfield Rd, Bldg. B, for intensive, individualized clinical therapy. Care includes ABA therapy and family guidance. Diagnosis and evaluations, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and feeding and swallowing therapy are complementary services, and some of them are not available at every center. The 360 Care model combines individualized goals, caregiver input, and coordinated clinical support. ABA programs are developed and overseen by board-certified behavior analysts, with registered behavior technicians supporting direct therapy. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tennessee plans include Aetna, Ambetter, Ascension Personalized Care TN, BlueCare MCD TN, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Cigna / Evernorth BH, Humana Behavioral Health, Meritain Health, United Healthcare (UHC), United Healthcare (UHC) Community Plan Medicaid, and Wellpoint Medicaid. Network participation and authorization vary by plan. The primary focus is diagnosis and ABA from 15 months through 9 years, with services offered up to age 10.

  • Center-based
  • Medicaid
  • Telehealth
AetnaAmbetterBlue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)Humana Behavioral Health+ 7 more
7

Proud Moments ABA - Memphis Hwy 64

Listed
Memphis, TNAges 3-5

Proud Moments ABA - Memphis Hwy 64 provides ABA therapy for children with autism in Memphis, Tennessee. Programs are designed and supervised by a BCBA. Each child starts with an assessment, and goals are built around the skills that matter most day to day: communication, play and social connection, routines and self-care, and reducing the moments that make a day hard for the whole family. Therapy is delivered through structured sessions in the center and sessions in the family home. Alongside ABA, this location offers parent training. Individualized Applied Behavior Analysis programs. Parent training. Highly qualified BCBA/LBAs. Parent and caregiver coaching runs alongside the child sessions, so the strategies that work in therapy carry over to home, school, and everyday outings. Accepted plans include TRICARE, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Healthcare. TennCare and Tennessee Medicaid plans are accepted. Families come to this location from across Memphis and the surrounding Shelby County communities.

  • Center-based
  • In-home
  • Medicaid
  • Parent training
TRICAREBlue Cross Blue ShieldUnitedHealthcare+ 1 more

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Planning guides

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Use these guides before you ask about intake, insurance, school coordination, parent training, or waitlists.

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Why Choose ABA Therapy in Memphis?

Memphis is the largest autism therapy market in West Tennessee, and provider addresses across Shelby County often serve far beyond the city itself. Families here compare ABA centers in Memphis with programs in Cordova, Bartlett and Collierville. Tennessee keeps early intervention, school evaluation and clinical ABA on separate tracks, so you can start TEIS, a Memphis-Shelby County Schools referral and private ABA intake at the same time.

Comprehensive Autism Therapy Services in Memphis

ABA providers in Memphis offer clinic-based therapy, in-home sessions, caregiver training and school coordination. The Tennessee Early Intervention System's Memphis Delta district office covers children from birth to three, and Memphis-Shelby County Schools runs Child Find from age three. Compare ABA therapy in Cordova and ABA therapy in Bartlett, and use the ABA intake checklist to ask every program the same questions.

When exploring special needs educational programs alongside behavioral therapy, families in Memphis often find that coordinated services produce the best outcomes.

Understanding Insurance Coverage for ABA Therapy in Memphis

Tennessee covers autism through two laws. The 2006 autism law, Tenn. Code Ann. 56-7-2367, requires individual and group policies, HMO contracts, and self-insured group arrangements not preempted by federal law that cover neurological disorders to cover autism spectrum disorder at least as comprehensively, with deductibles, copayments, and benefit limits no more stringent than for other neurological disorders. The stronger rule is the mental health coverage law, Tenn. Code Ann. 56-7-2360, which since January 1, 2019 requires individual, small group, and large group health plans to cover conditions listed in the DSM and ICD at parity under the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. The Department of Commerce and Insurance's Bulletin 19-01 confirms that autism falls under that law, so medically necessary, non-experimental treatment such as applied behavior analysis must be covered at parity. TennCare, the state Medicaid program, covers medically necessary behavioral services for eligible children through its managed care organizations, and one TennCare rule is worth knowing before intake: a prior authorization request for ABA must come from a treating physician or other treating healthcare provider who has personally examined the enrollee and provided diagnostic or treatment services, which excludes a clinician brought in primarily to support a coverage decision. Self-funded employer plans are governed by federal rather than state law, so the state mandate may not reach them. Confirm eligibility, medical necessity, prior authorization, network status, covered settings, and cost sharing with both your plan and the provider before therapy begins.

Tennessee Autism Support Programs and Regulations

The Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), run by the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging, is the state's voluntary birth-to-three program, offering therapy and other services to families of infants and young children with developmental delays or disabilities at no cost to families. TEIS operates nine regional district offices, including ones based in Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Murfreesboro, and a parent or anyone with a concern can make a referral through the online TEIS referral form or by calling (800) 852-7157. Once a child turns three, responsibility shifts to the local school district's Child Find process, which covers children ages three through 21, including those who are homeschooled or parentally placed in private school. Families whose income would otherwise rule out Medicaid should also ask about TennCare's Katie Beckett program for children under 18 with significant disabilities or complex medical needs, which has separate parts for children who meet an institutional level of care and for those who do not. When exploring specialized educational programs to complement ABA therapy, Memphis families have access to a comprehensive network of support services.

Selecting the right ABA therapy provider in Memphis is an important decision that can significantly impact your child's progress. The 10 therapy providers serving the Memphis area each bring unique strengths, from specialized early intervention programs to school-based services and intensive behavioral support. Many Memphis providers offer comprehensive parent training, ensuring that therapeutic strategies extend seamlessly into daily life. With Tennessee's strong insurance protections and regulatory framework supporting autism treatment, families in Memphis can confidently access high-quality, evidence-based ABA therapy services designed to help children reach their full potential.

Frequently Asked Questions About ABA Therapy in Memphis

How do ABA wait lists work in Memphis?
Memphis providers do not publish wait times, so ask each one for a realistic start window for your child's age and the hours you need. Intake moves through a screening call, insurance verification, a BCBA assessment and authorization of the treatment plan. A missing physician order or diagnostic report is a common cause of delay. Sign up with two or three programs and send complete records to each.
Does TennCare cover ABA for autism in Memphis?
Yes. TennCare covers ABA through its health plans, BlueCare Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and Wellpoint, with prior authorization. Starting ABA requires an evaluation and autism diagnosis from a Tennessee licensed clinician and a physician order. Since 2024 the plans and TennCare share one ABA request form. TennCare Kids is TennCare's EPSDT program of checkups and medically necessary care for children under 21. Choose a Memphis provider in network with your child's plan.
Will private insurance pay for ABA in Tennessee?
Usually, if the plan is state-regulated. Tennessee's 2006 autism mandate covered children under 12. In 2019 the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance ruled that state mental health parity law requires insurers to cover medically necessary ABA at parity, with compliance certifications due starting March 2020. Self-funded employer plans follow federal rules instead. Ask your insurer about prior authorization and in-network Memphis providers.
What should we look for in an ABA center in Memphis?
Visit during a live session. Watch how technicians run instruction and handle challenging behavior, and ask how often the BCBA is on site, how many children each technician works with, and how progress data reaches parents. Centers add peers and a structured day, which helps with school readiness; in-home ABA suits routines like meals and bedtime. Ask which time slots are actually staffed this month.
Where can a Memphis child get an autism evaluation?
Start with your pediatrician, who can screen and refer. The UTHSC Center on Developmental Disabilities in Memphis offers developmental pediatrics consultations for known or suspected developmental problems. Tennessee Disability Pathfinder helps families find evaluation options statewide. TennCare plans require a diagnosis from a Tennessee licensed clinician before ABA, so request the full written report and share it with providers on your list.
Where do Memphis families start for a child under three?
Contact the Tennessee Early Intervention System. TEIS is voluntary, serves children from birth to three with evaluation and service coordination at no cost, and its Memphis Delta district office is based in Memphis. A child qualifies with a diagnosed condition or a measured delay of 25 percent in two developmental areas or 40 percent in one. Anyone can make a referral, and a statewide TEIS team processes it.
How does the move from TEIS to Memphis-Shelby County Schools work?
Responsibility shifts from TEIS to the school district around the third birthday, and the transition is planned in advance. Memphis-Shelby County Schools runs Child Find for children ages 3 through 21 in its area, including children in private school or homeschool. For a school-age child, put your evaluation request in writing to the school. School services follow an IEP, while ABA is clinical care, so a child can qualify for one and not the other.
Should I look beyond Memphis city limits for ABA?
Often, yes. Cordova, Bartlett and Collierville sit inside the same Shelby County market and may have different openings, settings or insurance participation. Compare the full weekly travel time rather than the shortest single trip, especially for three or more sessions a week. For in-home ABA, confirm that a provider listing a suburban address actually staffs your Memphis neighborhood.

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