Kentucky was the 17th state in the nation to implement autism insurance reform with the passage of a revised statute in 2010. That legislative reform specifically defines the diagnoses and treatment of autism spectrum disorders as including applied behavior analysis. Significantly, this legislation also excludes reimbursement coverage for unlicensed professionals providing treatment for autism.
This law sets the parameters of insurance reimbursement for board certified behavior analysts (BCBA®s) and other professionals treating those with autism, from infants up to the age of 21:
- A $50,000 annual reimbursement cap is placed on treatments and services for autism for children aged 1-6 years old
- A $12,000 annual reimbursement cap is placed on treatments and services for autism for those aged 7-21 years old
- Treatment by BCBA®s and other autism service providers may be exempt from either of these caps
BCBA®s in Kentucky benefit from the fact that a wide range of insurance plans cover autism evaluations and treatments. The following plans are required by law to finance evaluations and treatments for autism, including work performed by BCBA®s:
- Large group health benefit plans
- Small group market health benefit plans
- Individual market health benefit plans
- State employee health benefit plans
Experienced board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA®s) in Kentucky can earn salaries as high as $107,490 a year, according to 2021 statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Salaries for Experienced BCBA®s in the Largest Metropolitan areas of Kentucky
The range of salaries for board-certified behavior analysts with ten years of experience in the field are shown below (median to top 10% – current as of May, 2021):
Louisville/Jefferson County:
- 50th: $107,490
- 75th: $119,770
- 90th: $125,060
Starting Salaries for BCBA®s in the Largest Metropolitan areas of Kentucky
The most highly paid BCBA®s in Kentucky who lack job experience in the field of behavior analysis can command salaries that exceed the median salary among highly experienced BCBA®s in the state. Salary data shown below for entry-level ABAs is current as of May 2021 (10th percentile to median):
Louisville/Jefferson County:
- 10th: $77,480
- 25th: $101,340
- 50th: $107,490
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Psychologists, All Other reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2023.