Families waiting for ABA services are often under tremendous stress, and providers feel that urgency too. Many BCBAs and agency leaders naturally want to help by pointing families toward another provider that may have availability. This impulse comes from a kind and loving place: a genuine desire to see children receive medically necessary care as quickly as possible, even if it means directing them elsewhere.
But here’s the challenge: when agencies or BCBAs share waiting list details with other providers, they risk stepping into serious compliance and ethical trouble. Good intentions do not erase the potential for HIPAA violations, state law breaches, or ethical missteps. To truly serve families, agencies must find ways to collaborate safely and legally. Read on to learn how to do that and download our free referral compliance checklist and sample waitlist referral form.
