Becoming a Washington State Center of Excellence (COE) through our COE certification training offers significant insights and benefits for healthcare providers in the field of autism diagnosis and treatment. The program, recognized by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), allows eligible healthcare providers with the expertise to diagnose autism and prescribe Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) services when appropriate.
The HCA contracts with the University of Washington’s Institute on Human Development and Disability to provide COE training and follow up support. There are typically four live virtual COE trainings a year.
An autism Center of Excellence (COE) is a health care provider who has been judged by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) to be qualified to diagnose autism and write a prescription for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) services if medically appropriate that will be covered by the HCA/Medicaid.
There are many different ways for children and youth to get a diagnosis of autism. In order for a child or youth to be eligible for ABA therapy through Apple Health/Medicaid, a recognized COE must conduct a comprehensive evaluation, and write an order for Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, within the last two years.
A COE provider can evaluate and establish or confirm the diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder and develop the multidisciplinary clinical treatment plan, including prescribing ABA therapy if appropriate, for Medicaid eligible children. COE required for Managed Care Organization (MCO) prescription approval.
COE status may help other insurance plans to authorize ABA services for their covered children, but each insurance plan may have different diagnostic requirements. COEs can also make an autism diagnosis that will be accepted for Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) eligibility.
COE status and training is focused on making an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis and helping the family determine next steps.
The HCA determines which primary care providers and other clinicians can become COEs. Currently the list includes medical physicians working in primary care, specialty physicians, clinical psychologists, ARNPs (and PMHNPs and DNPs) licensed naturopathic doctors and physician assistants.
An autism diagnosis from a COE provider can also be used by a family for Developmental Disabilities Community Services (DDCS, (formerly known as the Developmental Disabilities Administration or DDA) eligibility.
To become a COE, eligible health care providers need to:
Clinical psychologists, developmental behavioral pediatricians, psychiatrists and neurologists are not required to take the Autism Certification training but should contact [email protected] to be added to the official COE list to ensure there are no questions about having ABA prescriptions approved for patients with Medicaid insurance.
Certain clinician types are automatically recognized as COEs per WA 182-531A-0800
A qualified medical provider who has been designated by the HCA as a COE and has completed COE training requirements
Many clinicians who become Autism COEs want more training support for this role. COEs can apply to be part of Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Autism Washington for additional training and support. Many COEs also participate in interdisciplinary community diagnostic teams or community-wide autism coalitions, often called School Medical Autism Review Teams (SMART).
The HCA posts a list of COEs by county. More information about who can be a COE: HCA ABA Program Billing Guide
Only COE providers may prescribe ABA therapy for children covered by WA State Medicaid plans. COE providers can be pediatricians, family medicine physicians, ARNPs and licensed naturopathic doctors. Providers of other specialties including neurology, psychiatry, developmental pediatrics and licensed clinical psychologists may also be granted COE status without obtaining specific COE training. The WA State Health Care Authority decides who has COE status and grants this privilege. It should be noted that any provider can make an ASD “medical” diagnosis for a Medicaid child but the prescription of ABA services will only be honored by Medicaid if it was made by a COE provider.
More information:
Schools make their own assessment to determine school provided intervention services. They are not required to use a diagnosis from a medical provider but generally do so. There are no requirements as to what specific specialty, or specific autism training a provider needs to have obtained to make a diagnosis for the purposes of recommendations to schools.
Eligibility for services from the Developmental Disabilities Community Services (formerly the Developmental Disabilities Administration or DDA) is dependent on some specified diagnoses and a measure of functioning, generally adaptive skills.
DDCS will accept an autism diagnosis from any of the following professionals:
DDCS also recognizes an autism diagnosis from a Health Care Authority certified COE for the purposes of establishing DDCS eligibility:
As of Oct 17, 2019:
As of Oct. 4, 2024:
DDA Eligible Conditions Specific to Age and Type of Evidence and Diagnostician (in multiple languages); English PDF
If you have any questions or need more information, our team is here to help—feel free to reach out!
Autism care training for providers through expert-led telementoring.
Advanced autism care training for providers managing complex cases.
Utilize the innovative ECHO hub and spokes learning model to telementor clinicians.
Telementoring for providers supporting youth with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Providing support and training in diagnostic assessment and psychopharmacology.
Be qualified to diagnose autism and write a prescription for Applied Behavioral Analysis.
telehealth to coordinate multidisciplinary care for medical, psychiatric, and behavioral needs.
Join us in transforming healthcare for underserved populations.
We provide training, consultation, and partnership with community providers.
Connects professionals dedicated to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities.
WAINCLUDE provides education and training within a growing community of champions.
Autism care training for providers through expert-led telementoring.
Advanced autism care training for providers managing complex cases.
Utilize the innovative ECHO hub and spokes learning model to telementor clinicians.
Telementoring for providers supporting youth with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Providing support and training in diagnostic assessment and psychopharmacology.
Be qualified to diagnose autism and write a prescription for Applied Behavioral Analysis.
Join us in transforming healthcare for underserved populations.
Join us in transforming healthcare for underserved XXX TBD.
Connects professionals dedicated to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities.
WAINCLUDE provides education and training within a growing community of champions.