Louisiana Medicaid ABA Reimbursement Rates (2026)
From official Louisiana Medicaid sources. Updated July 2026.
These are the published Louisiana Medicaid rates for applied behavior analysis (ABA) services. Rates are shown as published. For per-15-minute rows, multiply by 4 for the hourly rate; rows priced per hour, per session, or per assessment are labeled in the table.
Louisiana ABA Fee Schedule
| Code | Service | Rate | Unit | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97151 | Behavior identification assessment (LBA) Verified on current ABA_FS_Current.pdf; LBA column, no modifier. | $25.00 | per 15 min | 2022-07-01 | source |
| 97151 (TF) | Behavior identification assessment (SCABA) TF = intermediate level (state-certified assistant behavior analyst). | $20.00 | per 15 min | 2022-07-01 | source |
| 97153 | Adaptive behavior treatment by protocol (technician/RLT) Rate and unit verified, but stored modifier ‘HN’ corrected to none: the fee schedule prices plain 97153 in the TECH column with no modifier on the rate row (HN appears only in the modifier-description legend). | $12.50 | per 15 min | 2022-07-01 | source |
| 97154 | Group adaptive behavior treatment by protocol (technician) TECH column; group code priced per 15 min per participant-serving technician session. | $4.50 | per 15 min | 2022-07-01 | source |
| 97155 | Adaptive behavior treatment w/ protocol modification (LBA) Verified on current ABA_FS_Current.pdf; LBA column. | $22.50 | per 15 min | 2022-07-01 | source |
| 97155 (TF) | Adaptive behavior treatment w/ protocol modification (SCABA) TF = intermediate level (SCABA). | $17.50 | per 15 min | 2022-07-01 | source |
| 97156 | Family adaptive behavior treatment guidance (LBA) Core code we lacked; LBA column on current fee schedule. | $22.50 | per 15 min | 2022-07-01 | source |
| 97156 (TF) | Family adaptive behavior treatment guidance (SCABA) SCABA tier of core code 97156. | $17.50 | per 15 min | 2022-07-01 | source |
| 97158 | Group adaptive behavior treatment w/ protocol modification (LBA) LBA column; SCABA tier (97158 TF) is $7.50. | $10.00 | per 15 min | 2022-07-01 | source |
How Louisiana Compares
| Code | Louisiana | National median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97151 | $25.00 | $29.14 | 14% below national median |
| 97153 | $12.50 | $15.00 | 17% below national median |
| 97155 | $22.50 | $24.18 | 7% below national median |
| 97156 | $22.50 | $22.50 | 0% above national median |
Market Context
Louisiana has had an autism insurance mandate since 2008. About 690,425 children in Louisiana are enrolled in Medicaid. Autism prevalence is 2.3% (2022 data). ProviderSpark lists 76 verified ABA provider locations in Louisiana.
Getting Paneled with Healthy Louisiana (Louisiana Medicaid managed care program)
ABA in Louisiana runs through Healthy Louisiana’s managed care organizations, so enrolling with the state is only step one. You still have to get credentialed with each MCO separately before you can bill.
- Confirm or obtain your NPI and gather standard enrollment documents (license, EIN/SSN, ownership disclosure) — see the Louisiana Medicaid enrollment overview.
- Submit the Louisiana Medicaid Enrollment Application through fiscal intermediary Gainwell Technologies — required even though ABA is paid through an MCO, because MCO participation sits on top of base Medicaid enrollment.
- Track your application anytime with the Provider Portal Enrollment Lookup Tool by searching your NPI.
- Separately credential and contract with each Healthy Louisiana MCO you want to bill, since ABA claims are adjudicated by the MCO, not paid fee-for-service.
- If you lose your enrollment invitation letter or need help, contact Gainwell’s provider enrollment line.
How Louisiana Delivers ABA
Louisiana uses a managed care model for ABA, with five MCOs handling claims: Aetna Better Health of Louisiana, AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, Healthy Blue Louisiana, Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana, and Louisiana Healthcare Connections. Because these plans adjudicate claims rather than the state paying fee-for-service, the rate you’re actually paid depends on which MCO’s network you’re contracted with, not a single statewide Medicaid fee schedule. That’s why credentialing with each MCO individually, not just enrolling with the state, is the step that determines what you get paid.
Billing Notes
Prior authorization from the beneficiary’s MCO is required for nearly every service tier: the initial Behavior Identification Assessment, the technician-assisted Behavior Identification Supporting Assessment, reassessments (at least every 6 months), and ongoing therapy under the treatment plan. No authorization period can exceed 180 days, and services delivered without one aren’t reimbursed except in retroactive-eligibility cases, so renewal timing matters for cash flow.
Telehealth ABA (CPT 97151-97158) is reimbursed but needs its own separate prior authorization, must meet the same standard of care as in-person visits, and must be rendered or directed by an RLT, LBA, or CaBA connected to the client by interactive audio-visual technology. In-home RLT therapy can also be supervised remotely by an LBA or CaBA instead of in person.
Only the supervising “licensed professional” (LBA, licensed psychologist, or licensed medical psychologist) can bill for services, not the technician directly. Supervision can’t be billed if that same professional is delivering the direct therapy that day, but one-on-one supervision can be billed at the same time as one-on-one technician-delivered therapy (ABA provider manual, Ch. 4).
Common Questions
What does Louisiana Medicaid pay for CPT 97153?
Louisiana Medicaid pays $12.50 per 15 minutes for 97153 (direct treatment by a technician). That is about $50.00 per hour.
What are the main ABA CPT codes?
97151 is the assessment. 97153 is direct treatment by a technician. 97155 is treatment with protocol modification by the BCBA. 97156 is family guidance.
Are these Louisiana rates current?
Rates come from the state fee schedule and were last checked July 2026. Each row links to its source. Always confirm against the current fee schedule before billing.
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