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<title>Empire Blue Cross ABA Therapy Coverage in Colorado: Approved In-Home Providers, Authorization, Senate Bill 09-244, and How Achieving Stars Therapy Bills Empire Blue Cross | Achieving Stars Therapy</title>
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<div class="hero"><div class="hero-inner"><span class="location-badge">Insurance Coverage</span><h1>Does Empire Blue Cross Cover ABA Therapy in Colorado?</h1><p>Yes — Empire Blue Cross covers ABA therapy in Colorado under Senate Bill 09-244. Achieving Stars Therapy is an Empire Blue Cross approved ABA provider, runs BCBA-led in-home programs across the Denver metro and statewide, and verifies your benefits before your first session.</p></div></div>
<div class="quick-info"><div class="info-item"><div class="info-label">Coverage</div><div class="info-value">SB 09-244</div></div><div class="info-item"><div class="info-label">Ages</div><div class="info-value">2-18</div></div><div class="info-item"><div class="info-label">Setting</div><div class="info-value">In-Home</div></div><div class="info-item"><div class="info-label">Start</div><div class="info-value">1-2 Weeks</div></div></div>
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<section><p>Empire Blue Cross covers ABA therapy for autism in Colorado because state law requires it. Senate Bill 09-244, passed in 2009, mandates that most private insurance plans in Colorado cover ABA for children with an autism diagnosis. Achieving Stars Therapy is an Empire Blue Cross approved ABA provider in Colorado and runs BCBA-led, in-home programs across <a href="/location/states/aba-therapy-colorado">Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, and the rest of the state</a>. We bill Empire Blue Cross directly.</p></section>
<section><h2>What does SB 09-244 actually cover under Empire Blue Cross?</h2><p>Colorado's autism mandate sets the rules every CO private insurer, including Empire Blue Cross, has to follow:</p><ul><li><strong>Children under 19</strong> with a documented autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.</li><li>Up to <strong>550 hours per year</strong> of ABA therapy through age 8.</li><li>Up to <strong>185 hours per year</strong> from age 9 through 18.</li><li>Medically necessary, supervised by a BCBA.</li></ul><p>Federal mental health parity law often expands those caps. ABA is a behavioral health service, and parity law requires insurers to treat behavioral health the same as medical/surgical care. Many Empire Blue Cross plans cover ABA at a higher hour cap (or no cap) once parity is applied. We verify this for every CO family during benefits verification.</p></section>
<section><h2>How does Empire Blue Cross authorize ABA in Colorado?</h2><p>Empire Blue Cross requires prior authorization before ABA therapy starts. The process Achieving Stars Therapy runs for CO families:</p><ol><li><strong>Diagnosis on file.</strong> A licensed evaluator must have diagnosed your child with autism. ADOS-2 reports, DSM-5 criteria reports, or developmental pediatrics reports all work.</li><li><strong>BCBA assessment.</strong> A board-certified analyst comes to your CO home, runs a functional behavior assessment, and writes the treatment plan with hours, goals, and timeline.</li><li><strong>Empire Blue Cross submission.</strong> Achieving Stars Therapy submits the assessment and plan. Authorization usually comes back in 7-14 business days.</li><li><strong>Reauthorization every 6 months.</strong> Empire Blue Cross requires updated progress data. The BCBA pulls the data and resubmits.</li></ol></section>
<section><h2>What about deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket costs?</h2><p>That depends on your specific Empire Blue Cross plan. Most CO families have a deductible plus per-session coinsurance. We verify your specific plan benefits before your first session and tell you in dollars what each session will cost. No surprises on the first bill.</p><p>If you also qualify for Health First Colorado (Medicaid), Medicaid can pay your Empire Blue Cross copay or act as secondary coverage. We handle that coordination.</p></section>
<section><h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
<div class="faq-item"><h3>Is Achieving Stars Therapy approved by Empire Blue Cross in Colorado?</h3>
<p>Yes. Achieving Stars Therapy is an Empire Blue Cross approved ABA provider in CO and bills Empire Blue Cross directly for in-home ABA therapy services.</p></div>
<div class="faq-item"><h3>Does Empire Blue Cross cover in-home ABA or only clinic-based?</h3><p>Empire Blue Cross covers ABA in the medically necessary setting. For most CO kids, that's in-home — and the BCBA's treatment plan documents why. Achieving Stars Therapy runs 100% in-home programs and Empire Blue Cross pays for them.</p></div>
<div class="faq-item"><h3>What if my Empire Blue Cross plan was bought through an out-of-state employer?</h3><p>Self-funded employer plans (ERISA plans) sometimes don't follow state laws like SB 09-244. We check the plan documents during benefits verification. Many employer plans still cover ABA voluntarily, and parity law usually kicks in either way.</p></div>
<div class="faq-item"><h3>How long does Empire Blue Cross authorization take?</h3><p>7-14 business days for the initial authorization after we submit the BCBA assessment. Reauthorizations every 6 months are usually faster.</p></div>
<div class="faq-item"><h3>Can my child use Empire Blue Cross and Health First Colorado together?</h3><p>Yes. Coordination of benefits is common. Empire Blue Cross usually pays first; <a href="/aba-therapy-medicaid-colorado">Health First Colorado (Medicaid)</a> covers what's left. Achieving Stars Therapy handles the coordination so you don't get stuck between billing departments.</p></div>
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<h2>Start ABA Therapy with Empire Blue Cross in CO</h2>
<p>Free benefits check. We verify your Empire Blue Cross plan and tell you what each session will cost.</p>
<a href="https://www.achievingstarstherapy.com/contact" class="cta-button">Get Your Free Benefits Check</a>
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<div class="cta-item"><div class="cta-item-label">Call</div><div class="cta-item-value"><a href="tel:8336663115">(833) 666-3115</a></div></div>
<div class="cta-item"><div class="cta-item-label">Email</div><div class="cta-item-value"><a href="mailto:info@achievingstarstherapy.com">info@achievingstarstherapy.com</a></div></div>
<div class="cta-item"><div class="cta-item-label">Setting</div><div class="cta-item-value">In-Home, CO</div></div>
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