Dothan, Ala. — Families across the Wiregrass are working to find new therapy services after multiple Beacon of Hope Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) clinics suddenly closed.
Within the past month, 11 of the company’s 13 clinics have shut down, according to information shared by parents and former employees. The closures have affected an estimated 200 children who were receiving ABA therapy in the region.
ABA therapy is commonly used to help children with autism develop communication, social and behavioral skills. Parents say the sudden closures have disrupted services that typically require consistency and regular scheduling.
At the same time, a formal complaint has been submitted to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and the Alabama Behavior Analyst Licensing Board regarding BCBA Shelby Elizabeth DiPilla, the provider associated with Beacon of Hope clinics that operated in Enterprise, Dothan, Ozark, Greenville, Andalusia and nearby school systems.
According to statements from parents, clinicians and former employees, concerns raised in the complaint include questions about Medicaid and insurance billing practices, supervision of Registered Behavior Technicians, staffing levels and clinical oversight, as well as payroll and employment issues.
Some families say they were charged approximately $30 per day while their children were receiving therapy services billed to Medicaid. Medicaid rules generally prohibit providers from charging additional out-of-pocket fees for services billed through the program. Families say receipts for those charges have been submitted to regulators.
Former employees have also reported payroll concerns, including bounced paychecks during the final pay periods and questions about retirement contributions that were withheld from paychecks but may not have been deposited into employee 401(k) accounts. Employees say documentation related to those concerns has also been shared with investigators.
Several parents say investigators have contacted them and asked questions about therapy schedules, service dates and providers who were present during therapy sessions. Parents report investigators compared therapy hours their children attended with hours that may have been billed.
A complaint or investigation does not mean wrongdoing has occurred. Regulatory boards are responsible for reviewing the information and determining whether any violations took place.
The Alabama Behavior Analyst Licensing Board is scheduled to meet April 10, where matters related to this provider may be discussed.
In the meantime, families across the Wiregrass are working to find placement for their children with other ABA providers. Parents are being encouraged to review their insurance or Medicaid statements, compare billed therapy hours with the hours their child attended, and confirm that any new provider is properly licensed and in good standing with the Alabama Behavior Analyst Licensing Board.
The situation continues to develop as families seek answers and regulators review the complaints.
