u/Gloomy_Map662

The may sound like a dumb question. However, I have heard so many different interpretations regarding this, and I am a little bit confused: Is it ethical (and within insurance requirements) if an RBT is billing for direct client services with a client and then runs probes with that client and counts that time as unrestricted? My understanding is that RBTs generally only acquire unrestricted hours if they are NOT billing the insurance company for providing direct client services. I know that ABA companies may, as part of a contract with a student intern, pay the student intern who is providing unrestricted services, but the insurance companies (as far as I know) are not being billed for this. I know that this can get complicated if, during a supervised direct session, the RBT runs probes of the client's skills at the behest of the BCBA. I have also been told that insurance companies do not want to pay for direct services if more than a few probes are administered during a session.

I think this is a rhetorical question. However, I would love to get some feedback on this: Is there an ABA company that actually knows (and uses) ABA? I suspect the little ones that were founded by (and still run by) BCBAs would meet this (incredibly low) bar. However, are there other companies? I know these companies have to exist. However, I have only heard about them from a few people, as if they are unicorns or something.

I am writing this for a friend. My friend is a BCBA and he just started with a company to provide services in home/community/school. He says that his administrator is not following through when he asks for RBT session notes to be amended because they are in error in term of the times during which the RBT was actually providing direct services. He told me he has repeatedly reached out to his administrator, but receives no response. He does not want to leave the company. However, for how long can/should my friend work for a company that, as far as he knows, is submitting fraudulent hours?