ABA Therapy in Denver With No Waitlist
Budding Futures provides home-based ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapy in Denver with no waitlist: a free benefits check within 48 hours, a BCBA assessment at your home within two weeks, and a first session usually 2 to 4 weeks after your call, with Health First Colorado (Medicaid) or your insurance plan.
- No waitlist
- Medicaid usually $0
- Evenings until 8 PM
- Same RBT each week
| Wait | No waitlist. Your call is answered the same business day. |
|---|---|
| Where | Your home in Denver (Capitol Hill to Green Valley Ranch) and the metro area: Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster, Littleton, Centennial, Thornton, Broomfield, Highlands Ranch. Daycare, preschool, the community and school when the setting allows. |
| Who comes | The same registered behavior technician (RBT) each week, guided by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Rachel Blackburn, BCBA, Clinical Director, writes every treatment plan. |
| Ages | 18 months to 18, from early intervention for toddlers to teens |
| Schedule | After school, evenings until 8 PM, weekends |
| BCBA supervision | About 20% of hours (BACB minimum: 5%); parent training in 10 to 20% of hours |
| Health First Colorado | Accepted. Usually $0, no copays under 19. We file the prior authorization. No autism diagnosis needed first. |
| Insurance | Aetna, Cigna, Anthem BCBS, UnitedHealthcare, Kaiser, TRICARE; often $0 to $500 out of pocket |
| Private pay | About $120 to $150 per hour |
| Goals | Talking and social skills, potty training, meltdowns, daily living skills, feeding, sleep, school readiness |
| Spanish | Yes, terapia ABA en español for Denver families |
| Rating | 5.0 on Google from 17 reviews |
Call (720) 613-8837 or send the form to start this week.
From first call to first session in Denver: each step and how long it takes
- Day 1, call or form: intake calls you back the same business day.
- Within 48 hours, free benefits check: we verify Health First Colorado or your insurance plan and tell you what you will pay.
- Week 1 to 2, assessment at home: a BCBA evaluates your child (VB-MAPP or ABLLS-R) and writes the treatment plan with you.
- 1 to 3 days later, authorization sent: we submit the plan and the prior authorization request (PAR). State-regulated insurance plans must answer within five business days under Colorado law (C.R.S. 10-16-112.5); Health First Colorado runs its own review.
- Week 2 to 4, first session: your RBT starts at your home, after school, in the evening or on a weekend.
Health First Colorado (Medicaid) ABA therapy in Denver, no waitlist
- Covers in-home ABA for eligible children under 21, usually at $0
- No autism diagnosis needed first: the state covers behavioral therapy when a doctor says it is medically necessary (HCPF)
- Budding Futures files the prior authorization; each approval lasts up to six months
- Denver County members are served by Colorado Access, Region 4
- Denied or cut hours: we file the appeal with you, within 30 calendar days to the Office of Administrative Courts
Is "no waitlist" a red flag? What to check before you sign
A fast start only helps if supervision, staffing and hours hold up. The Autism Society of America tells parents to ask any ABA provider these questions.
| Ask the provider | Budding Futures |
|---|---|
| What is the supervision structure? | A BCBA supervises about 20% of hours with weekly data review. The BACB minimum is 5%. |
| Will my child see the same technician? | Yes, one RBT each week, after 40 hours of training, a competency assessment and enhanced background checks. |
| How are hours tied to goals? | The BCBA sets hours after the home assessment; they go up or down as goals change. |
| What outcomes do you promise? | None. ABA is not a cure. Progress shows in weekly data on the goals you chose. |
What still takes time, even with no waitlist
- A diagnosis for private plans. Aetna and many commercial plans want a written autism spectrum disorder diagnosis first; Health First Colorado does not. Our Denver evaluation list shows who diagnoses, costs and published waits.
- Prior authorization. Five business days by law for a state-regulated plan (not self-funded employer plans); Health First Colorado reviews after the assessment.
- School access. In 2023-24, Denver Public Schools granted 3 of 28 requests for ABA therapy in school (Chalkbeat, 2024). Home sessions start first.
What Colorado providers said about ABA waitlists
- Ken Winn, president of the Colorado Association for Behavior Analysis, 2023: "We're seeing waitlists of six to eight months, or a year" (KOAA News 5)
- Colorado lost at least nine autism therapy agencies in 18 months, "filling up waitlists across the state" (The Colorado Sun, July 2023)
- Colorado has about 1,877 BCBAs and 8,515 RBTs certified for the whole state (BACB count), which is why most families call several providers before one has an opening
More: in-home ABA therapy in Denver and no-waitlist ABA across Colorado.
What families tell us
"Mark and the team at Budding Futures are truly the type of team I want to work with my child. Compassionate, driven, and they strive for excellence."
David Brody, verified Google review"The support they bring to the families is insane. You'll feel so supported and valued. They truly do care for these kids and I couldn't feel better anywhere else."
Bella Calvillo, verified Google review"My son loves his RBT Dani, she is a super star. As well as Mark and Rachel always keeping in check and checking in."
BadBry 48, verified Google reviewOther ABA services in Denver
School-based ABA is one of three ABA services Budding Futures offers in Denver. Here are the other two.
In-Home ABA Therapy in Denver
One-on-one sessions in your home, built around your child's real routines. Most families start here.
Early Intervention ABA in Denver
Play-based ABA for toddlers from 18 months, with parent coaching built in.
Looking for a different city? See every Colorado ABA therapy location.
More autism therapy options for children in Denver
School-based ABA across Colorado
Every evidence-based ABA therapy service we offer at school, statewide, and how outreach works.
ABA therapy in Denver
In-home and school-based autism services in Denver, from 18 months to 18.
When ABA meets the school year
What happens to therapy hours when school starts.
Autism IEPs in Colorado
What an IEP covers and what a district can refuse.
Nearby: school-based ABA support in Aurora, Lakewood and Arvada. For children under 5, see early intervention ABA in Denver.
Start ABA therapy in Denver this week
1. Call (720) 613-8837 or send the short form.
2. We verify your Medicaid or insurance benefits, free.
3. A BCBA assesses your child at home and sessions begin.
No waitlist. Health First Colorado, Aetna, Cigna, Anthem BCBS, UnitedHealthcare, Kaiser and TRICARE accepted; we verify your benefits for free first.