Utah Medicaid & CHIP · Salt Lake Valley

Utah Medicaid covers ABA therapy — we’ll help you start.

If your child is under 21 and has an autism diagnosis, Utah Medicaid and CHIP cover ABA at no cost to most families. We diagnose, verify benefits, and begin care — usually within a week of your first call.

Start your Medicaid intake Call (385) 550-3500
$0
For most Medicaid families
<21
Ages covered through EPSDT
7 days
Typical time to first session
Plans we accept
Molina · SelectHealth Community Care · Healthy U · Health Choice
No waitlist
Diagnosis → therapy in one place
What’s covered

Utah Medicaid pays for ABA — in full, for kids who qualify.

Under the federal EPSDT benefit, every state Medicaid program (including Utah) must cover medically necessary ABA therapy for children with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. CHIP — Utah’s plan for kids whose families earn too much for traditional Medicaid — carries the same ABA benefit. There is no copay for most families and no annual cap on hours when the care is medically necessary.

Full ABA therapy hours

10 to 40 hours a week of 1:1 therapy, scaled to your child’s assessment — not to a state-mandated cap.

Autism diagnostic evaluation

Medicaid pays for the diagnostic testing itself. We do the evaluation in-house, so there’s no separate referral and no waiting room hand-off.

Parent training & family support

BCBA-led coaching for parents and caregivers is part of the same authorization — not a separate bill.

Center-based and in-home

Both settings are covered. Most families start in our Murray center; we add home sessions as a treatment goal calls for it.

Reassessments every 6 months

Medicaid re-authorizes care twice a year. We write the renewal packet for you — you do not chase paperwork.

Transportation help (some plans)

Several Utah Medicaid ACOs — including Molina and SelectHealth Community Care — offer non-emergency rides to medical visits. Ask us; we’ll point you at the right phone tree.

Step-by-step

How to qualify for Utah Medicaid ABA coverage.

Two things have to be true: your child needs to be enrolled in Utah Medicaid or CHIP, and they need a written autism diagnosis from a qualified provider. We can help with the second part the same week you call.

Talk to our intake team
  1. 1

    Enroll your child in Utah Medicaid or CHIP

    Apply at medicaid.utah.gov or call the Utah Department of Health at 1-866-435-7414. Children up to age 19 in households earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level typically qualify for CHIP; many qualify for full Medicaid at lower income tiers. If your child is already on Medicaid for another reason, you’re ready for step 2.

  2. 2

    Get an autism diagnosis — here, with no waitlist

    Utah Medicaid requires a documented ASD diagnosis from a licensed psychologist, developmental pediatrician, or other qualified provider. Many Utah families wait 9 to 18 months for an evaluation slot. We do the testing in-house at our Murray clinic, typically within a week of your first call, using the ADOS-2 and clinical interview standards Medicaid expects.

  3. 3

    We verify your plan & submit prior auth

    Tell us your Medicaid ID and the name of your ACO — Molina, SelectHealth Community Care, Healthy U, or Health Choice Utah. We pull your benefits, complete the BCBA assessment, and submit the prior authorization packet. Most authorizations come back in 7 to 14 business days.

  4. 4

    Start therapy — usually within a week of approval

    Your BCBA writes the individualized treatment plan, you meet your child’s lead RBT, and we schedule sessions around school and family life. Center-based, in-home, or a mix — you choose.

Plans accepted in Utah

Every Utah Medicaid ACO — plus CHIP and fee-for-service.

Utah Medicaid contracts its members to Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). We’re in-network with all four major ACOs in the Salt Lake region, plus traditional fee-for-service Medicaid and Utah CHIP.

Molina Healthcare of Utah

One of the largest Medicaid ACOs in Utah. Card shows the Molina logo with a Utah Medicaid ID.

SelectHealth Community Care

Intermountain’s Medicaid plan — not to be confused with their commercial SelectHealth product.

Healthy U Medicaid

University of Utah Health Plans’ Medicaid ACO — common in Salt Lake County.

Health Choice Utah

Steward Health Choice Utah — statewide Medicaid coverage including ABA benefits.

Utah CHIP

Children’s Health Insurance Program — for kids whose families earn too much for Medicaid but still need affordable coverage. ABA is included.

Traditional / fee-for-service

If your card says “Utah Medicaid” without an ACO logo, you’re fee-for-service. Coverage is identical.

No waitlist · Utah Medicaid

Stop waiting for an evaluation. Start this week.

One phone call covers both the diagnosis and the start of therapy. We verify your Medicaid benefits while we have you on the line.

Start your intake (385) 550-3500
Diagnosis + ABA, one team

Why families on Utah Medicaid choose On Target.

We are one of the few Medicaid-credentialed providers in the Salt Lake Valley that does diagnostic testing and ABA under one roof. That means no second referral, no second waitlist, and no chance the diagnostic report fails the medical-necessity bar Medicaid uses to authorize hours.

  • No waitlist — evaluations typically scheduled within a week.
  • Founder Ilana Gross, BCBA personally oversees clinical quality.
  • 10,000+ sq ft Murray center with 1:1 RBT-to-child ratios.
  • We handle the Medicaid paperwork — you don’t chase prior auth.
  • Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the Murray clinic.
Frequently asked

Utah Medicaid & CHIP, answered.

Does Utah Medicaid actually cover ABA therapy?
Yes. Under the federal EPSDT mandate, Utah Medicaid and Utah CHIP both cover medically necessary ABA therapy for children under 21 who have a documented autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. There is no annual hour cap when the care is medically justified, and most families have no copay.

My child doesn’t have an autism diagnosis yet. Can you help?
Yes — this is the step most Utah families get stuck on. Diagnostic testing slots in Utah can run 9 to 18 months out. We do the evaluation in-house at our Murray clinic, typically within a week of your first call. Utah Medicaid covers the testing itself, so most families pay $0 for both the evaluation and the ABA that follows.

What’s the difference between Medicaid and CHIP for ABA?
Practically, none for ABA. Utah CHIP is for kids whose families earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid — up to 200% of the federal poverty level. CHIP carries the same ABA therapy benefit, the same prior-authorization process, and the same medical-necessity bar. CHIP has a small monthly premium for some income tiers; ABA itself is still covered.

How many ABA hours will Utah Medicaid authorize?
It depends on your child’s BCBA assessment. Early-intervention plans usually run 25 to 40 hours a week; school-age plans often run 10 to 20 hours after school and on breaks. Medicaid re-authorizes every six months based on documented progress. We write the renewal packet for you.

What do I need to bring to the first appointment?
Your child’s Utah Medicaid or CHIP card, a photo ID, and any prior evaluations or school IEP/504 documents you have. If you don’t have a diagnosis yet, you don’t need anything — we’ll do the evaluation. If you’re not sure which ACO you’re assigned to, we can look it up while you’re on the phone.
Get started

Your Medicaid card already covers this.

One call is enough. We’ll verify your Utah Medicaid or CHIP benefits, book the autism evaluation, and start therapy — usually inside a week.

Start your intake online Call (385) 550-3500

Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · 5444 South Green Street, Murray, UT 84123