How to Open an ABA Clinic in California
California covers ABA as Behavioral Health Treatment (BHT), and in 2025 it created a dedicated Medi-Cal enrollment pathway for ABA providers. Here's how to set up, enroll as a Qualified Autism Service (QAS) provider, and contract with the managed-care plans most of your clients will use.
Business & clinical foundation
1Form your entity & get an EIN. Register with the California Secretary of State, get an IRS EIN and W-9, and establish at least one administrative location in California.
2Line up providers. California's three QAS tiers: QAS Providers (BCBAs and Educational Psychologists), QAS Professionals, and QAS Paraprofessionals (including RBTs) working under supervision.
3Get NPIs & insurance. A Type 1 NPI for every individual provider, a Type 2 for the organization, plus liability coverage.
4Establish a place of business (EPOB). Medi-Cal policy generally requires QAS Providers to have an Established Place of Business.
Medi-Cal: enroll as a QAS provider via PAVE
This is the California-specific core. ABA is reimbursed as BHT, and as of July 1, 2025 enrolled QAS Providers can bill Medi-Cal directly for fee-for-service members. Enrollment runs through the PAVE provider portal.
- Who enrolls: Only BCBAs and Educational Psychologists enroll as QAS Providers. QAS Professionals and Paraprofessionals (incl. RBTs) are reported/attested by the organization — they do not separately enroll.
- Organizations enroll as a "Healthcare Business" in PAVE — not as a Group or Mixed Group.
- Roster maintenance: any change must be reported to DHCS within 35 days via a supplemental application.
- Processing time: state law generally allows DHCS up to 180 days to act — submit early and clean.
Managed care plans (MCPs)
Most Medi-Cal members get ABA through a managed care plan, so after PAVE enrollment you contract with the MCPs in your county. A plan may allow you to participate in-network for up to 120 days while screening is pending. Check the DHCS Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan directory for the plans in your area.
California quick reference
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Benefit name | Behavioral Health Treatment (BHT) |
| Provider type | Qualified Autism Service (QAS) Provider |
| Who enrolls | BCBAs & Educational Psychologists (via PAVE) |
| Org enrollment | As a "Healthcare Business" in PAVE |
| Direct FFS billing | Available to enrolled QAS Providers since July 1, 2025 |
| Roster changes | Report within 35 days |
| MCP grace period | Up to 120 days in-network pending screening |
California Medicaid (Medi-Cal)
California DHCS (Medi-Cal) — BHT & QAS enrollment via PAVE
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov
Built for California's roster & deadline rules.
Cue tracks each provider's NPI, credentials, and the 35-day roster-change clock, keeps authorizations organized per client, and surfaces deadlines before they lapse. Free for your first five kiddos.
Request an Invite →The universal pieces
- How to start an ABA clinic — the full launch checklist.
- Insurance credentialing — NPI, CAQH, applications, timelines.
- Authorization & reauthorization — units, treatment plans, avoiding lapses.
- ABA billing — CPT codes, modifiers, clean claims.
FAQs
Who has to enroll with Medi-Cal to provide ABA?
ABA is covered as BHT. BCBAs and Educational Psychologists enroll as QAS Providers via PAVE. RBTs and other paraprofessionals are reported/attested by the organization and don't separately enroll.
Do I need to enroll if I only contract with managed care?
Yes. QAS Providers must enroll in FFS Medi-Cal through PAVE even if they only intend to contract with managed care plans.
How does an organization enroll in PAVE?
As a Healthcare Business (not Group/Mixed Group). The org reports each rendering provider's NPI, name, and license/cert number.
This guide is general information, not legal, billing, or regulatory advice, and reflects publicly available California DHCS information as of June 2026. Medi-Cal BHT/QAS rules, managed-care requirements, and timelines change — always confirm current requirements with California DHCS, the relevant managed care plans, and qualified professionals before acting.