Changing ABA providers in Bergen County without losing authorization

Step-by-step guide to switching ABA providers in Bergen County, NJ while keeping your child’s therapy authorization intact. Covers Medicaid, PerformCare, Early Intervention, a

Published September 4, 2026 · Bergen County, New Jersey

Why you might need to change

A move across Bergen County. A scheduling conflict. A provider who is no longer a good fit. Whatever the reason, switching ABA providers is common. The key is to keep your child’s authorization active so therapy continues without a gap. This article walks through the concrete steps for families living in Bergen County, New Jersey, using the specific systems and resources available here.

Start with your current authorization

Before you do anything else, find the exact type of authorization your child holds. Is it through NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP) and its managed care plans (Horizon NJ Health, Wellpoint, Aetna Better Health of NJ, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan)? Is it through the New Jersey Early Intervention System (for children under 3)? Or through PerformCare, the single access point for the Children's System of Care (ages 3 through 21)? Each path has its own rules.

Check your most recent authorization letter. It will list the provider name, the effective dates, and the number of authorized hours. If you cannot find the letter, call the managed care plan or PerformCare directly. Ask: “What is the current authorization for ABA? What is the start and end date?” Write down the authorization number.

Select a new provider in Bergen County

Bergen County has 108 ABA providers registered on the federal NPPES registry. All 70 municipalities have a provider within 7 miles. Towns with the most providers include Hackensack (12), Montvale (9), Fair Lawn (8), Englewood (6), Mahwah (5), and Teaneck (5). That range covers north, central, and southern parts of the county. If you live in a smaller town like Alpine, you may drive a few miles, but a provider exists nearby.

When you contact a new provider, ask two things upfront: “Do you accept my child’s insurance (and specific managed care plan)?” and “Can you start the transition process immediately?” Some providers have waitlists, but the county’s density means most can give you a straight answer within a few days.

Notify the current provider

You do not have to wait for the new provider to be fully set up before giving notice, but do not cancel the old authorization until the new one is active. Send a written notice (email is fine) to your current provider’s billing department. State: “We are switching ABA providers as of [date]. Please suspend any discharge paperwork until we confirm the new start date.” Ask them for a transition note or summary of goals and progress. This document helps the new provider write a continuation plan, which can speed up authorization.

Work with the authorization body

For children under 3 (Early Intervention): Contact your service coordinator with the New Jersey Early Intervention System. Tell them you want to change the ABA provider on your Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). They will convene a meeting or amend the plan. The new provider must be enrolled as an Early Intervention vendor. Authorization transfers with the IFSP amendment, not a separate insurance preauthorization.

For ages 3 through 21 (PerformCare): PerformCare handles the Children’s System of Care. Call PerformCare at their published number (available on the NJ Children’s System of Care website). Say: “I want to change ABA providers. My current authorization is with [provider name]. The new provider is [name]. What do I need to do?” PerformCare will typically require a new authorization request from the new provider. This can be done as a “change of provider” or “transfer” without starting the entire assessment from scratch. The new provider will submit clinical documentation. There is no set timeline, but if both providers cooperate, the transition often takes a few business days to a couple of weeks. Work closely with both provider billing teams to ensure they submit the required forms promptly.

For children covered by NJ FamilyCare managed care plans: Even if your child is also in PerformCare, the managed care plan (Horizon NJ Wellpoint, Aetna, or UnitedHealthcare) may issue a separate authorization for ABA. Ask the new provider whether they need a “continuity of care” request. If so, call the plan’s member services line and explain you are changing providers. Request a “transition of care authorization” that covers up to 30 days while the new provider completes a full assessment. This prevents a gap.

Coordinate with your school district (if applicable)

If your child receives ABA through a school district (as part of an IEP), the process is separate. Bergen County’s school districts include Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Carlstadt, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Dumont, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, and many more. Each district has its own contract or vendor list. Changing a provider on an IEP requires an IEP meeting. You or the district can call a meeting to discuss the change. The district must agree to the new provider. Start this process at least a month before you want the change, because scheduling IEP meetings takes time.

If your child receives both school-based and home-based ABA, the two authorizations are separate. You can change the home-based provider without changing the school provider.

What about children over 21?

After age 21, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) oversees services. ABA is not typically funded under DDD’s standard service package, though some waiver programs may cover behavioral supports. If your child is 21 or older and you want to change an ABA provider, start by contacting DDD’s regional office in Bergen County. Ask about the “Supports Program” or “Community Care Waiver” and whether ABA can be included. Be aware that funding options for ABA after 21 are limited compared to the younger age groups. You may need to explore private pay or additional waivers.

Acknowledge the uncertainty

Every family’s situation is slightly different. The exact forms, the timeline, and the level of hassle depend on your specific plan, provider, and county system. Some managed care plans process a provider change in one business day. Others take two weeks. If you run into a denial or a delay, ask for a “supervisor” or “clinical appeals coordinator.” Keep a log of every call with dates, names, and reference numbers. You have the right to a fair hearing if a change is denied, but most cases resolve before that step.

Finally, do not cancel the old authorization until the new one is issued. If there is a gap, you may have to restart the full initial authorization process, which can take much longer. With careful planning and a clear list of Bergen County’s resources, you can switch providers without losing a day of therapy.