Alpaca Health matches Charlotte families with independent BCBAs you can meet by name on this page. Get in-home ABA therapy across Charlotte and nearby towns, from Huntersville to Matthews to Mint Hill, or telehealth anywhere in North Carolina. We verify NC Medicaid and private insurance before you begin, we do not run a waitlist, and most families start the same week.
Clinically reviewed by
Samantha Ridout, M.Phil., BCBA, LBA-NYS· BACB certification #1-22-57709 · Last updated July 2026
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Meet the BCBAs serving Charlotte
Hi! I'm Gretchen, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and co-owner of The Anchored Path. I value function over fashion when it comes to ABA. After a decade of ABA experience, I have learned that it is important to have clients be successful outside of ABA by creating lasting changes.
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Danielle Virnelson is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and founder of Ascent Pediatric Group, where she provides compassionate, family-centered ABA therapy and caregiver support.
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Dr. Lisa Drumb, PhD, BCBA, LBA, is a clinical leader and educator with over a decade of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis and special education. She serves as Vice President of Clinical Operations and teaches ABA at Capella University, where she mentors future behavior analysts.
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Hi! I'm Jessica, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and co-owner of The Anchored Path. I specialize in working with children on the autism spectrum and their families. Every child deserves to feel supported, understood, and empowered to grow at their own pace.
Book a consultationView profileIn-school and in-daycare ABA: therapy integrated into your child's daily routine
Virtual ABA therapy: BCBA-coached telehealth sessions from home
Free autism evaluations: ADOS-2 assessments for children 18 months to 6 years
Parent training: twice-monthly Family Guidance sessions with your child's BCBA
Which setting fits your family? Tell us during signup. Most Charlotte families start in-home across the metro, and telehealth reaches any family in North Carolina the same week.
In-clinic is BCBA-dependent: Alpaca Health does not run clinics in Charlotte, but some independent BCBAs see children in their own clinic space.
Every setting includes the same team, and we verify your benefits before sessions start. Sessions can extend to in-home ABA therapy, virtual ABA therapy, or in-school ABA therapy as your child needs.
We accept most insurance providers and handle verification, prior authorization, and paperwork.
Don't see your plan? Check all accepted insurances
Most Charlotte children using NC Medicaid for ABA are served through a Behavioral Health and I/DD Tailored Plan, and in Mecklenburg County that plan is run by Alliance Health.
If your child's Medicaid card says Alliance Health, that is where your authorization runs, so have the card ready when you call.
Charlotte families also commonly use Carolina Complete Health, ChampVA, and TriCare East, and the same advice applies: the name on the card decides who authorizes ABA.
Alpaca Health accepts NC Medicaid and most major private plans, and we confirm your exact benefits, whichever card you hold, before you commit to anything. For how the two coverage tracks work, see the Medicaid and insurance section below.
ABA therapy insurance and Medicaid in North Carolina
North Carolina has two coverage tracks for ABA therapy, and which one your family is on changes your limits.
If a provider or website says your child's Medicaid ABA is capped or ends at 18, they are describing the private-insurance track, not yours. Alpaca Health verifies your benefits on either track.
Private and employer plans: NC law under § 58-3-192 (SB 676)
- State-regulated plans must cover the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism, including adaptive behavior treatment, which is the statutory category that covers ABA.
- Plans may apply an annual limit to adaptive behavior treatment. State law set a base amount in 2016 that adjusts upward each year with inflation, so the current ceiling depends on your plan year. Any page quoting one flat dollar figure is out of date.
- Plans may limit the adaptive behavior treatment benefit to children age 18 and younger. Screening and diagnosis are not subject to that limit.
- Self-funded employer plans can be exempt. One question for HR settles it: "Is our plan fully insured or self-funded?"
NC Medicaid: ABA through EPSDT, with no dollar cap
- NC Medicaid covers ABA as Research-Based Behavioral Health Treatment under Clinical Coverage Policy 8F.
- For children and teens under 21, ABA is delivered through the EPSDT benefit. Coverage follows medical necessity, not a dollar figure.
- There is no annual dollar cap and no age-18 cutoff. Coverage runs through age 20.
- Most children receiving ongoing ABA are served through a Behavioral Health and I/DD Tailored Plan, which varies by county. Your child's Medicaid card shows the plan name.
Getting an autism diagnosis in Charlotte
ABA therapy requires a confirmed autism diagnosis before insurance or NC Medicaid will authorize it, so this step comes first.
If your child is between 18 months and 6 years old, start with the simplest route: Alpaca Health offers a free ADOS-2 diagnostic evaluation with no waitlist, and it produces the medical diagnosis insurance and NC Medicaid require.
Charlotte evaluation routes
For children older than 6, or if your family prefers an outside evaluation, Charlotte has an established route for every age.
Unsure where to start? The Autism Society of North Carolina runs a statewide Find a Diagnosis service. And families sometimes confuse a school evaluation with a medical diagnosis, so here is how the routes compare.
Under age 3
the Children's Developmental Services Agency (CDSA) of Mecklenburg County, the local arm of the NC Infant-Toddler Program, provides free early-intervention evaluations. You do not need a referral or a diagnosis to call 704-336-7100.
Start free diagnosisAll ages
the UNC TEACCH Charlotte Center evaluates children, adolescents, and adults, typically across two visits, using tools such as the ADOS and CARS-2. TEACCH is not free: it is state-supported and bills accepted insurance through the UNC network.
Age 3 and up
Novant Health and Atrium Health developmental and behavioral pediatrics, plus established private psychology practices, diagnose using tools like the ADOS-2. Waits can run months, so get on more than one list and ask to be called for cancellations.
How to choose and what to expect
Unsure where to start? The Autism Society of North Carolina runs a statewide Find a Diagnosis service. Keep in mind that a school evaluation establishes special education eligibility, not the medical diagnosis insurance and NC Medicaid require, so make sure at least one route on your list produces a medical diagnosis.
Waits at hospital systems and private practices can run months, so join more than one list and ask to be called about cancellations. Families can also start the evaluation and the BCBA match with Alpaca Health directly, and we verify coverage before sessions begin.
How autism diagnosis works in North Carolina
ABA therapy requires a confirmed autism diagnosis before insurance or NC Medicaid will authorize it. Where you start depends on your child's age.
Under age 3: start with your local CDSA
Children's Developmental Services Agencies, the local arm of the NC Infant-Toddler Program, cover every county with free early-intervention evaluations for children from birth to age 3. No referral or diagnosis is needed to start.
Reviewing the early signs of autism can help you decide whether to call. Find your local office in the state's CDSA directory.
Age 3 and up: TEACCH, medical, and school routes
- UNC TEACCH: seven regional centers provide diagnostic evaluations for all ages using standardized tools such as the ADOS and CARS-2. State-supported but not free: TEACCH bills accepted insurance, so confirm your plan when you call (see autism diagnosis costs).
- Medical route: a developmental pediatrician or psychologist diagnoses using tools like the ADOS-2 and CARS-2. Waits can run months, so join a list early. The Autism Society of North Carolina runs a statewide Find a Diagnosis service.
- School route: under Child Find, every district must evaluate children with suspected disabilities at no cost. A school evaluation can qualify your child for an Individualized Education Program (IEP), but insurance and NC Medicaid still require the medical diagnosis. Once it is in hand, here is what to do next.
Neighborhoods and communities we serve in Charlotte
Alpaca Health does not operate a clinic in Charlotte, and we will not pretend otherwise. In-home ABA therapy means your BCBA comes to you, so our service area follows where our clinicians live and travel across Mecklenburg County and the surrounding towns. Telehealth covers every North Carolina address.
Where in-home matching reaches
- North: Huntersville, where two of our Charlotte BCBAs already provide in-home sessions.
- East and southeast: Matthews, Mint Hill, and Indian Trail.
- Northeast: Harrisburg and Concord, along the I-85 corridor.
Where our BCBAs work today
Our Charlotte BCBAs provide in-home ABA across Charlotte, Huntersville, and Mint Hill, and you can meet each clinician on this page before you fill out a form.
If your neighborhood is not named
Ask anyway. In-home availability depends on where our BCBAs are based in a given month, and telehealth reaches everywhere in North Carolina, so no Charlotte family is out of range.
Recent North Carolina policy changes
If you have seen 2026 headlines about North Carolina reining in autism therapy costs, here are the details.
In April 2026, the state enacted House Bill 696, now Session Law 2026-1, signed on April 30, 2026.
The background: NC Medicaid spending on autism behavioral treatment grew from $121.7 million in state fiscal year 2022 to $329.4 million in 2024, with roughly $639 million projected for 2026. Lawmakers responded with tighter oversight. The figures come from NC Medicaid's policy paper.
Reviewed July 2026. We will update this section as NC Medicaid publishes the amended Clinical Coverage Policy 8F.
What the law does
- Directs NC Medicaid to update Clinical Coverage Policy 8F, the policy that governs ABA coverage.
- Requires paraprofessionals delivering ABA to hold an RBT or ABAT certification, with a 120-day grace period for new hires.
- Strengthens prior authorization and treatment-plan oversight.
What the law does not do
- It does not end your child's coverage. The EPSDT entitlement to medically necessary ABA for children under 21 remains in place.
- For families already in services, expect more documentation and closer review of treatment plans, not a loss of care.
- If a provider tells you this law means your child is losing Medicaid ABA, get a second opinion. That is not what it says.
Every clinician matched through Alpaca Health already holds a recognized certification, which is the standard this law requires.
How ABA therapy works through Alpaca Health
Four simple steps from your first form to your first session. No waitlists, no phone tag, no guesswork.
1
Tell us about your child
Start with our short intake form. You share the basics: your child's age, your availability, your insurance, and any autism diagnosis you already have. That is all we need to understand where your family is starting from.
2
We verify your insurance
After you submit the form, we verify your insurance and follow up within one business day to confirm the details. No long waits, no phone tag.
3
Get matched with the right provider
We match you with a licensed provider who has availability now, not months from now. Prefer someone specific? Tell us, and we will try to make it work. Either way, the fit is built around your child's needs and your family's schedule.
4
Start care the same week
We introduce you directly to your provider, and they take it from there. Most families have their first meeting or assessment within the same week, whether that is in-home ABA therapy or a telehealth session.
Local programs and organizations that support families alongside ABA therapy.
Local lead agency for North Carolina's Infant-Toddler Program. Provides free evaluations and early intervention services for children birth to age 3 with developmental delays.
Public school district serving families in North Carolina. Coordinates IEPs, classroom accommodations, and special education services for students with autism.
Free 24/7 phone, text, and chat support for anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Call or text 988.
North Carolina Local Management Entity / Managed Care Organization. Runs the NC Medicaid Tailored Plan and provides a 24/7 behavioral health crisis line for mental health, I/DD, and substance use emergencies.
Statewide autism nonprofit whose Charlotte-based Autism Resource Specialists help families find services, plus respite and skill-building programs.
University-based regional center offering autism diagnostic evaluations, intervention, and parent training across the lifespan.
Local nonprofit providing residential, community support, respite, and vocational services for children and adults with autism in the Charlotte region.
Charlotte-area nonprofit providing therapy grants, emergency financial aid, and camp/holiday assistance to autism families across the Carolinas.
The public managed-care organization for Mecklenburg County administering Medicaid behavioral health and IDD services, including NC Innovations Waiver access.
County Park & Recreation program offering adaptive sports, summer camps, and inclusive recreation for youth and adults with disabilities.
North Carolina's Parent Training & Information Center offering free help navigating special education, IEPs, disability rights, and transition to adulthood.
Why independent clinics matter
In-home ABA that fits your life
- The providers we work with bring therapy to you, wherever your child is most comfortable.
- That might mean home, daycare, school, or virtual sessions. Our flexible care model ensures that therapy integrates into your family’s daily routine, rather than disrupting it.
- Our network is made up of independent, local clinicians who prioritize collaboration, not control, so you stay in charge of your child’s care.
Support for the full pediatric age range
- Many ABA centers stop care when a child turns 8. Not us. We support the full pediatric age range, toddlers to age 21.
- Your child deserves more than short-term support. With Alpaca, they can build a long-term relationship with a provider who understands their growth over time and adapts care as their needs evolve.
- We also support your whole family with educational events and resources, including parent webinars, advocacy toolkits, and grant guides.
More care. Less wait.
- Waiting months for ABA shouldn’t be the norm. At Alpaca, we help families connect with the right provider in just a few days.
- We work exclusively with independent providers, which allows us to stay flexible and waitlist-free. That means faster assessments, quicker treatment starts, and the end of years-long waits.
- Ready to get started? We’ll handle the paperwork, help coordinate referrals, and walk you through every step.
How much does ABA therapy cost in Charlotte?
It depends on your coverage. NC Medicaid covers ABA with no dollar cap through age 20. State-regulated private plans cover it too, with an annual limit that adjusts each year and may apply up to age 18.
Alpaca Health verifies your benefits before you start, so you know your costs up front. See what ABA therapy costs, or check your Charlotte coverage.
What areas around Charlotte do you serve?
Alpaca Health provides in-home ABA therapy across Charlotte, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, Harrisburg, Indian Trail, and Concord, plus telehealth anywhere in North Carolina.
