Insurance Changes!!

An Important Update for Families: Your Options After CareSource Coverage Ends

At Children’s Autism Assessment Center, we know that seeking an autism or neurodevelopmental evaluation can already feel like a long and complicated process.

The last thing families need is another unexpected barrier.

As of August 12, 2026, Children’s Autism Assessment Center is no longer in-network with CareSource.

We understand that this change may leave families wondering what happens next—especially families who have already been referred to us, are in the middle of an evaluation, or have been planning an evaluation for their child, teen, or themselves.

We want you to know that you still have options, and our commitment to providing accessible, individualized, neuro-affirming evaluations has not changed.

If CareSource Was Your Insurance, You Are Not Out of Options

The end of our CareSource contract does not mean the end of your ability to work with Children's Autism Assessment Center.

You may still have options through another participating insurance plan, Medicaid coverage, or self-pay with potential out-of-network reimbursement.

If you aren't sure which option makes the most sense for your family, we encourage you to reach out to us.

Our team can help you understand the available pathways and determine what information you'll need before scheduling.

What Insurance Plans Does CAAC Currently Accept?

Children's Autism Assessment Center continues to participate with:

• UnitedHealthcare / Optum

• Straight Medicaid

• Peach State Medicaid

If you have one of these plans, our team can help you understand the next steps for scheduling an evaluation.

But what if your insurance isn't one of these plans?

That's where our self-pay option may provide another path forward.

Self-Pay Evaluations: An Alternative to Waiting on Insurance

We recognize that paying for an evaluation out of pocket isn't possible for every family.

At the same time, some families prefer self-pay because it can provide greater flexibility and may allow them to move forward without waiting for insurance authorization, network availability, or other insurance-related delays.

Our current self-pay rates are:

Children Ages 0–6

$1,200

Children & Teens Ages 6–18

$1,800

Adults Ages 18+

$2,000

PDA Evaluations

$2,000

Katie Beckett / SSI Re-Evaluations

$1,000

For families using self-pay, we provide a comprehensive superbill and supporting documentation that can be submitted to your insurance company for consideration of out-of-network reimbursement.

It is important to understand that every insurance plan is different. Out-of-network benefits and reimbursement amounts vary, and reimbursement is not guaranteed by CAAC.

We encourage families to contact their insurance company before beginning services to ask about their out-of-network mental health or psychological testing benefits, deductible, coinsurance, authorization requirements, and reimbursement process.

Why Choose Children's Autism Assessment Center?

An evaluation shouldn't simply answer the question, "Does this person meet criteria for autism?"- It should help families understand why someone experiences the world the way they do.

At CAAC, we take a neuro-affirming approach to evaluation.

That means we don't approach neurodivergence as something that needs to be "fixed." Instead, we seek to understand an individual's strengths, challenges, developmental history, communication style, sensory experiences, emotional regulation, relationships, learning profile, and day-to-day functioning.

We take great care in making this as tailored of an approach as possible, whether that means taking a walk around, taking more time, joining your little one in the parking lot.

We are always one call away- we are still help guide your family even after your consultation appointment going over your report. 

Our goal is to provide families with meaningful information they can actually use.

Autism is a Spectrum- It Doesn't Always Look the Same

One of the reasons comprehensive evaluation matters is that autism does not have one single presentation.

Some individuals are identified early in childhood.

Others may reach adolescence or adulthood before anyone recognizes that autism may explain some of the challenges they've experienced throughout their lives.

Some individuals may have learned to mask or compensate for their differences.

Others may present differently because of their developmental stage, gender, environment, intellectual abilities, communication style, or co-occurring conditions.

At CAAC, we have experience evaluating individuals with a variety of presentations, including families seeking evaluation related to:

• Autism and broader neurodevelopmental differences

• PDA profiles

• Female presentations of autism

• Children and adults who have been overlooked or previously misidentified

• Complex autism presentations

• Re-evaluations

• Katie Beckett and SSI-related evaluations

• Individuals seeking a better understanding of their developmental profile

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We Work With Children, Teens, and Adults

Autism evaluation isn't just for young children.

We work with individuals across the lifespan and understand that the questions families bring to an evaluation can look very different depending on someone's age and stage of life.

For a young child, parents may be asking:

"Is my child developing like other children their age?"

For a teenager:

"Why does school, socializing, or everyday life feel so much harder than it seems to for everyone else?"

For an adult:

"How did I make it this far without anyone recognizing this?"

There isn't one right reason to seek an evaluation.

Sometimes, the goal is diagnosis.

Sometimes, it is validation and understanding.

Sometimes, it is accessing accommodations, services, educational support, or additional resources.

And sometimes, families simply want a clearer understanding of the person they love.

We Know Families Don't Want to Wait Forever

Finding the right evaluator is only part of the process.

Families also frequently encounter long waitlists, insurance authorization delays, limited provider availability, and uncertainty about when they will actually receive their results.

We understand how difficult that can be.

When scheduling availability allows, our team works to get families scheduled quickly and provide your family with a finalized report efficiently. 

Our goal is to make the process as organized and straightforward as possible—from scheduling through evaluation, feedback, and completion of the final report. We believe in communication and do not want to delay services any longer than your family has already been waiting.

Children's Autism Assessment Center

We believe every individual deserves the opportunity to better understand themselves—and every family deserves an evaluation that sees the whole person, not just a diagnosis.

Whether you're seeking an evaluation for a young child, teenager, or adult, we're here to provide thoughtful, comprehensive, and neuro-affirming care.

Call Children's Autism Assessment Center at (404) 390-1322 to learn more or discuss scheduling.

*Insurance coverage, authorization requirements, and out-of-network reimbursement vary by individual plan. CAAC cannot guarantee reimbursement from an insurance company. Families should verify their benefits directly with their insurer before beginning self-pay services.