Announcing greater convenience with virtual delivery of some ABA services

Optum is pleased to make an exciting announcement regarding the virtual delivery of some ABA services. Effective for dates of service beginning April 1, 2019 and in addition to ABA Supervision of Behavior Technicians, Family Training and Guidance can be provided via telemedicine, that is, via real-time, audio/video sessions with your clients' family member or caregiver. The expansion of this service to include the virtual modality will make it easier and more convenient for you and your clients to schedule and participate in training sessions. The reimbursement for these virtual services will be the same as for providing family training in person, but with the added convenience of being able to meet online at a time that works best for both you and your clients.

In order to provide supervision and family training services virtually, you must be an approved Optum virtual visits provider who has attested to meeting the requirements specific to providing virtual services. If you are already an approved "remote supervision" provider, please complete the revised virtual visits provider attestation and process. You can complete and submit a virtual visits attestation on our virtual visits page of Provider Express. Your attestation will be processed in about 10 business days, after which you may begin to provide supervision and training services virtually.

Please be sure to alert the Optum Care Advocate that the training services will be provided virtually when completing the authorization process. After receiving authorizations, to bill for the virtual ABA Supervision of Behavior Technicians and Family Training and Guidance, simply include the same procedure code you would use for an in-person service, 97155, 97156 or 97157, on your claim with the "02" place of service code to let us know the service was provided via telemedicine. Additional information and resources can be found on our ABA page at Provider Express.

Please contact our Provider Service Line at 1-877-614-0484 with any questions.