Your Child Was Just Diagnosed With Autism. What to Do This Week.

What to do first

In the first week after an autism diagnosis, focus on four things: get the written report, call your insurance, ask for a referral, and call ABA providers. You don’t have to do them in order, and you don’t have to do them alone.

1. Get a copy of the written diagnosis

Ask the evaluator for the full written report on their letterhead, not just a note. Reports are usually ready 1 to 2 weeks after the appointment. Check that it states the diagnosis and its diagnosis code, the tests used, and the evaluator’s credentials. Insurance companies, schools and therapy providers will ask for it before services can start. Keep a copy on your phone.

2. Call your insurance company

Call the number on the back of your card and ask three questions:

• Does my plan cover ABA therapy for autism?
• Do I need a referral or approval before it starts?
• Which ABA providers near me are in network?

Write down the name of the person you spoke with, the date, and any reference number. If your child has Georgia Medicaid, autism evaluations and ABA therapy are covered for children under 21. If a request is denied, ask how to appeal.

If this feels like a lot, an ABA provider like Apollo Behavior can check your benefits for you.

3. Ask your child’s doctor for an ABA referral

Most insurance plans want a doctor’s referral or prescription for ABA therapy. Ask your pediatrician or the doctor who made the diagnosis to send one.

4. Call ABA therapy providers

When you call, ask:

• How soon can my child start?
• Do you take my insurance?
• Is therapy at your center, at home, or both?
• Who supervises my child’s program, and how often are they on site?

At Apollo Behavior, most families start 2 to 6 weeks after their first call, and a BCBA is on site at every center.

Not diagnosed yet?

If your child is on a waitlist for an evaluation, Apollo Behavior offers diagnostic evaluations. Our step-by-step guide to autism diagnosis in Georgia explains how the process works and who can diagnose.

Talk to us

Call 404-410-7600 or start enrollment. We’ll check your insurance and walk you through each step.

Reviewed by Kristen Vaughn, BCBA, VP of Clinical Operations. Last reviewed November 2026.