Massachusetts Association for Applied Behavior Analysis (MassABA) – 2025 Chapter Update

By: Susan Ainsleigh

Introduction:

The Massachusetts Association for Applied Behavior Analysis (MassABA) was established in 2010 to support the science and practice of behavior analysis in Massachusetts. Massachusetts boasts among the highest per capita concentration of certified behavior analysts in the world and an active behavior analytic community. The vision of MassABA is to serve as the trade organization for its community. MassABA has focused its efforts to fulfill this vision by:

Engaging more members through our state-of-the-art conference and regional networking events;
Building upon the diversity of our field to strengthen the support to our members;
Expanding upon our strong legislative efforts to advocate for our field.

Summary of 2024-25:

Annual Member Meeting and Election Update:

MassABA held an election on June 11, 2024. Four new directors were elected to the MassABA Board by members: Dr. Jescah Apamo-Gannon, Dr. Maria MacLean, Dr. Susan Rapoza-Houle, and Lisa Gurdin. Mike Lapre was elected as student representative. Dr. Paulo Guilhardi began a new term as MassABA President and Dr. Cheryl Davis began a term as MassABA President-Elect. Dr. Joe Vedora began a new term as MassABA Treasurer. Bethanne Miles completed a term as MassABA President.

Summary of Board of Directions Actions and Planning in 2024

MassABa’s Board of Directors undertook a detailed review and update of the MassABA’s bylaws in 2024, concluding with an adopted of a revised set of bylaws in February 2025. The revised bylaws are available on www.massaba.net. In addition, MassABA’s Board of Directors conducted a detailed review of MassABa’s financial status and monitoring.

Public Policy & Advocacy Committee Update:

Two previous committees merged to form this new committee in 2024, which has as its mission to support the mission of MassABA by increasing the public’s awareness of the myriad of ways in which applied behavior analysis is being utilized to improve humankind. Through close collaboration with key stakeholders, the committee will provide support to practitioners, consumers of ABA, and policymakers to ensure equitable and easy access to high-quality ABA services for the citizens of the Commonwealth.

The current 2024-2025 goals for this committee are:

Collaborate with other trade associations, members, and stakeholders to create an ongoing public relations campaign to educate consumers, stakeholders, legislators, and the community at large about the science and profession of applied behavior analysis;
Maintain consistent and ongoing meetings with funding sources, including health insurance, and DPH to address key issues that impact or slow the provision of ABA services to consumers;
Through collaboration with stakeholders, including other ABA trade organizations, members, consumers, policymakers, and legislators, provide advocacy and training to improve equitable access to high-quality applied behavior analytic services;
Advocate for business conditions that promote equitable access to treatment at parity with providers of general healthcare services;
Through collaboration with membership, relevant topics in the field of ABA will be identified and position papers will be developed to support behavior analytic work in the commonwealth;
Provide support, training, and education to providers and consumers of insurance-funded applied services to reduce barriers that prevent the immediate and equitable provision of insurance-funded ABA services;
Provide support, training, and education to providers and consumers of ABA services that are not insurance-funded services with a consideration of providers utilizing ABA outside the realms of education, autism, and other developmental disabilities;
Actively solicit input from members through bi-monthly meetings to ensure areas of concern are addressed;
Collaborate with MassABA’s diversity, social media, and licensure committees as needed to coordinate efforts, advocate, and communicate with members and stakeholders

The committee has been active working with membership, legislators, payors, and other key stakeholders to accomplish its mission and goals. Among initiatives/accomplishments:

Ongoing meetings with MassABA organizational and individual members to receive input on barriers;
Quarterly meetings with payors (BCBS of MA, Carelon (MBHP), MassHealth) to work on significant issues, including delays to credentialing, authorization processes, payor reimbursement issues, customer service responsiveness to members, impacts to members related to mergers and acquisitions;
Worked with key stakeholders on unified authorization request form;
Worked with national trade associations to review OIG report related to provision of ABA services and provide a MassABA response;
Worked with Optum to ensure they met our state mandate requirements on paraprofessional staff qualifications. As a result of this MassABA ensured MA was the only state in which RBT was not a requirement for service provision with Optum Members. This accomplishment has been sought out by other states;
Provided a response to an update on MassHealth requirements including a requirement that providers be accredited by an organization specialized in ABA. This and other initiatives are increasing the administrative burden on providers without a comparable decrease / relief in other areas;
Worked with Optum to ensure they met our state mandate requirements regarding paraprofessional staff qualification. As a result of this MassABA ensured MA was the only state in which RBT was not a requirement for service provision with Optum Members. This accomplishment has been sought out by other states;
Gave testimony to advocate for an increase in rates that reflect inflation and associated costs.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee:

This committee elected new co-chairs, Dr. Jescah Apamo-Gannon and Dr. Gabrielle Morgan. In the fall of 2024, this committee presented to the board a proposed position statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, which was adopted by the MassABA Board of Directors in October 2024. For a copy of this position statement, please visit www.massaba.net. During the spring of 2025, MassABA’s DEIB Committee has scheduled and help CE Events and meetings for members to introduce this statement, its guiding principles and planned actions, among these: continuous education and training, transparent communication, collaborative partnerships, data-informed decision making, community engagement, leadership and membership.

Professional Development/ Conference & Events Committee Update:

MassABA’s 2024 conference returned to an onsite format after 3 years of remote attendance. Over 350 members and supporters attended the day event in May 2024, which offered CEs, speakers, exhibitors, networking, resources, and lunch. MassABA’s Annual Conference returns to Marlborough, MA on May 9, 2025.

MassABA’s continued to plan and offer CE Events in partnership with its Public School Committee and in partnership with the Insurance Resource Center for Autism out of UMASS-Chan Medical School.

In 2025, MassABA Board of Directors will be reviewing and updating its Strategic Plan, including seeking significant input from members on desired goals and initiatives for the upcoming 2-3 years.