Physician Referrals

Provide a referral to determine a diagnosis

Early identification of autism is key. Therapy is crucial to development, but getting the right care all starts with a diagnosis.

Every person with ASD experiences different challenges and abilities, so diagnosing isn’t black and white. Ask the parents to observe and take note of the child’s developmental milestones, lack thereof, regressions and any other behaviors that may concern them. While it’s not an exhaustive list, feel free to refer to Hopebridge’s list of some of the potential signs of autism when discussing the concerns with caregivers.

After reviewing and talking through their concerns, if you still feel there are challenges that need to be addressed, refer to us for a diagnostic assessment. To do so, you can use our easy-to-fill-out referral form (or provide your own) and fax it to us with the child’s insurance information.

From there, the parents will schedule a testing appointment with a member of the Hopebridge Autism Testing Team at one of our centers, where we offer thorough, insurance-recognized assessments. Once we receive the referral, we contact the patient’s family within 48 business hours to verify basic information.

Evidence shows that the earlier development is evaluated, the greater the chance a child has to reach his or her potential. Knowing this, Hopebridge provides some of the quickest answers in the area and can begin services for children and toddlers as young as 15 months. To find out more about Hopebridge’s assessment options and schedule an appointment, reach out through our Contact page or call us at (855) 324-0885.

Craft a custom plan of care

We don’t treat the diagnosis. We treat the child. Finding out whether the patient has autism is imperative in guiding the direction for therapy services, but simply knowing does not overcome his or her struggles.

Autism has so many different faces. Each child has unique challenges and abilities. We take this into consideration and teach across a spectrum, from low-functioning to high-functioning autism. We aim to embrace everyone under the ASD diagnosis, which is now also inclusive of what was previously known as Asperger’s Syndrome. At Hopebridge, each child has his or her own team of talented, passionate professionals with a commitment to create a plan of care tailored for each individual.

Individuals with ASD often have needs that will benefit from ABA, speech, feeding and occupational therapy. As as a result, we typically perform ABA, speech and OT evaluations* to discover targeted areas for intervention, which includes communication with your team. The comprehensive behavioral and skills assessments ensure goals are selected based on the child’s chronological age and developmental needs. Whether that be potty-training in the short term or setting him or her up for preschool in the long term, we use these results to develop a plan to get there.

With multiple coordinated therapies and natural environmental possibilities under one roof, our team collaborates to develop the most effective mix within a Hopebridge Individualized Treatment Plan (ITP) for each family. Frequency and duration of therapy is determined based on the results of the evaluation, but we follow the guidelines of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, which recommend 20 to 40 hours of ABA per week to provide the best possible chance of success and independence.

Insurance authorization for autism therapy

Hopebridge accepts nearly all private insurance plans and Medicaid to make therapy accessible for the widest possible range of families. Because therapy coverage varies by plan, our full-service insurance team provides support from start to finish to make sure the patient is eligible for applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy).

To be accepted by insurance, the diagnosis must include Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) scoring or other testing to indicate the level of severity, in which Hopebridge’s assessments abide. Our Care and Benefits Team can contact the child’s insurance company to obtain the proper approval for an evaluation and therapy services. From there, we work directly with the insurance company to obtain authorization for therapy services.

Now this is where our partners come in: once proposed, the physician needs to review and approve the plan.

The patient starts the therapy needed to thrive

Once the logistics are cleared, your patient will receive one-on-one attention and care. With our center-based 360 Care model, the child will receive one-on-one attention through ABA’s evidence-based practices blended with other crucial services, like occupational and speech therapies.*

All programs are developed and overseen by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), but directed by parents’ and physicians’ input on goals. For instance, if they want to prepare the patient for school or learn to socialize with other children, we have the experience, time and resources to start small and build our way up. Our therapists begin with one-on-one skills, then can slowly work up to parallel play, interactive play and even mock classroom-like settings. Your patients will have access to on-site clinical support, which ensures safe responses to prevent, minimize and manage behavioral challenges.

Once objectives are set and plans are implemented, progress is monitored and programmatic changes are determined with help from data evaluation. The learner’s goals and progress are reviewed with parents every 90 days, in addition to regular progress updates with physicians. Parent education and home programming are also offered to enhance the benefits of therapy.

Receive support through the transition process

These children hold special places in our hearts forever, but it is never our intent to keep them in our centers forever. Our happiest days are those in which our little learners transition out of their programs and onto new adventures.

Just like the children we work with, transitions fall along a broad spectrum. They are goal-driven and timelines vary. Gaining independence and catching up on developmentally age-appropriate skills are usually strong signs kids are ready to grow into the next phase. For some, this means evolving from full time to part time therapy in the center. For others, it’s progressing into preschool, kindergarten or another grade level, either in special education or regular education classrooms.

No matter which route they take, our therapists not only help them get there, but support families throughout the transition process. Regular check-ins with parents, schools and physicians are available to ensure long-term success. It’s all part of 360 Care.

The journey doesn’t end here. This is just the beginning of a beautiful life for them, here at Hopebridge, home and beyond, and we hope you’ll partner with us in the process.