TEIS, School Services and ABA Therapy in Tennessee: How They Fit Together

If you are worried about how your young child is developing, you may hear about several kinds of help in Tennessee: the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), special education through your school district, and ABA therapy. Each one has its own rules about age, eligibility and who pays. Knowing how they fit together helps you move faster and avoid gaps.

This guide explains each program, how families combine them, and how to start ABA therapy with BH Field from our Brentwood office, wherever you live in Tennessee.

Key takeaway: TEIS serves infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities at no cost to families, and a child who joins before age 3 can now stay until kindergarten. School districts offer special education from age 3. ABA therapy is a separate, insurance-funded service for children with autism. They are not either-or, and many families use more than one.

The Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS)

Tennessee's early intervention program, under Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), is the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), run by the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging. It offers therapy and other services to families of infants and young children with developmental delays or disabilities.

What families should know, from the state's TEIS pages:

• Services are free. TEIS services are provided at no cost to families.
• How to refer. You can refer your child with the online referral form, through the MyTN app, by calling (800) 852-7157, or by emailing DD.TEIS_Referrals@tn.gov. Have your child's name, date of birth and county, your contact information, and the reason for the referral ready. Someone other than a parent can make the call, with the parent's information.
• No diagnosis is needed. A child can qualify through a diagnosis on TEIS's list, through premature birth criteria, or through an evaluation that shows a 25% delay in two developmental areas or a 40% delay in one (TEIS eligibility). You do not have to wait for an autism evaluation to refer.
• Refer before age 3. A child referred after their third birthday cannot begin TEIS services. From that age, your school district is the place to start.
• A family plan. If your child is eligible, a service coordinator works with you on an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) that sets out your child's goals and services.

The TEIS Extended Option: staying until kindergarten

Since October 15, 2022, Tennessee has offered the TEIS Extended Option. A child who was enrolled in TEIS before age 3 and is eligible for special education through the school district can stay in TEIS until the start of the school year after their fifth birthday, instead of moving to school services at 3.

It is your choice. You can keep TEIS's family-centered services, or move to your school district's preschool special education. Once a child moves to school-based special education, they cannot return to TEIS.

School services: special education from age 3

Tennessee school districts provide special education for eligible children ages 3 through 5, overseen by the Tennessee Department of Education's Division of Special Populations. If you have concerns about your child, you can request a free evaluation by contacting the school district where you live (kidcentral tn). Every district must look for and evaluate children with suspected disabilities from age 3 (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.05).

If your child is in TEIS, your service coordinator will plan the transition with you before your child turns 3, whether you choose school services or the Extended Option.

For a child found eligible, the school team writes an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the legal document that sets out the kind and amount of services your child needs. You are part of that team. School services focus on what your child needs to learn and take part in school.

Where ABA therapy fits

ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapy is a separate service from TEIS and school special education. It is usually paid for by health insurance or TennCare, and it typically requires an autism diagnosis and insurance authorization. In Tennessee:

• Since 2019, Tennessee's mental health parity law has required health plans issued in the state to cover medically necessary ABA for autism, as the Department of Commerce and Insurance explained in Bulletin 19-01. Self-funded employer plans are generally exempt from state mandates.
• TennCare covers medically necessary care for members under 21 through TennCare Kids, and its health plans cover ABA for children with autism with prior authorization.

Behavior analysts in Tennessee are licensed by the Applied Behavior Analyst Licensing Committee of the Tennessee Department of Health.

How families combine them

• Under 3, still waiting on a diagnosis. Refer to TEIS now. You do not need to wait for an autism evaluation.
• Under 3, with an autism diagnosis. Your child can receive TEIS services and also start ABA therapy if insurance authorizes it. Share the IFSP with your BCBA, and let your TEIS service coordinator know about ABA, so goals line up.
• Turning 3. Choose between the TEIS Extended Option and your school district's preschool special education. ABA therapy can continue alongside either one.
• School age. The IEP covers your child's education. ABA therapy, when medically necessary and authorized, works on goals at home, at school and in the community.

With your permission, we are happy to coordinate with your child's TEIS team or school.

How to start ABA therapy with BH Field in Tennessee

BH Field is now open in Tennessee. Our office is at 103 Continental Pl, Suite 204, Brentwood, TN 37027, and we serve families across the whole state.

We do not have a clinic in Tennessee yet, so here is how services work:

• Direct ABA therapy is delivered in person by a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) at your home or at your child's school.
• Telehealth is used for assessments, BCBA supervision and parent training. It is not used for your child's direct therapy sessions.
• Our team is bilingual in English and Spanish.

What intake looks like

Our intake has nine stages, and it usually takes 2 to 16 weeks from first contact to first session:

1. You complete the questionnaire.
2. We contact you within 24 hours.
3. You send your documents. This part is yours, and it sets the pace of everything after it.
4. We build your intake package in 1 to 3 business days, including verifying your benefits.
5. Insurance approves the assessment, in 1 day to 4 weeks.
6. Your BCBA assesses your child and writes the report, in 1 to 2 weeks.
7. Clinical review, in 2 to 4 business days.
8. Insurance approves treatment, in 1 day to 4 weeks.
9. We match your team, in 1 business day to 4 weeks.

The two insurance approvals and therapist matching drive that range. Matching depends on your schedule flexibility, any language or therapist-gender preference, and your location, since in-home services need an RBT who covers your area. If we cannot staff your case quickly, we will tell you honestly rather than leave you wondering.

What to have ready

• Your child's autism diagnosis report
• Both sides of every insurance card your child has
• Your child's IFSP or IEP, if they have one

No diagnosis yet? TEIS (under 3) or your school district (3 and older) can be a good first step while you arrange an evaluation, and you are welcome to call us with questions in the meantime.

Reach us at (877) 438-1265 or info@bhfield.com.

Next steps

• See how we serve families statewide on our Tennessee page.
• Start ABA therapy and we will contact you within 24 hours.
• Use the ABA intake checklist to gather your documents.
• Learn how we check your coverage on our insurance verification page.