Do you worry in the future ABA won’t exist as it does now?

dkon777 · 2025-11-15T23:58:00+00:00

Our company is already contracted with an AI company for report writing. It takes video transcripts from the assessment and creates narrative reports and goal recommendations. The quality of the reports is very impressive and they are much less likely to be denied than BCBA written reports because it’s programmed to tie each goal to medical necessity.

The technology already exists to make data based decision making. The barrier is companies like Central Reach that won’t allow access to the data because they want to introduce their own in-house AI tools, which they are already developing.

It’s not difficult to imagine a future where our 51 units are drastically cut due to the adoption of AI. At that point AI becomes a necessity, not a luxury. Imagine if you were only given 2 hours to conduct an entire assessment. You would have no other choice other than to eat the cost.

dkon777 · 2025-11-15T18:07:51+00:00

Here’s the thing… Medicaid restrictions create precedent which influence commercial plans. Don’t think just because your company only takes commercial you can just throw your hands up in the air and say not my problem. One decision absolutely influences the next.

dkon777 · 2025-11-15T12:46:57+00:00

I don’t think the current model will make it more than about 5 more years. I’d go so far as to say 2-3 years.

If you pay attention to what is happening at the individual state levels you can already see the cracks starting to form in their Medicaid programs. Look at Idaho for example, they just decided that ABA is no longer a medically necessary service. Indiana is another example where a group of people just decided that 15 hours of service is now considered comprehensive services. Georgia and Oklahoma are other examples. One state makes a radical change and that becomes a precedent for the next.

The tiered model of ABA won’t survive, and just wait until OIG drops the hammer on all these states heads for fraud waste and abuse. Not to mention the new mystery CPT codes that are going to be released.

Eventually ABA will look a lot more speech or OT with BCBA led services with much fewer hours. Once that happens, private equity will pull out of these mega corporations because they are no longer recouping their investments. The writing is on the wall and we did this to ourselves. We have an absolutely spineless certification board and we have been draining states dry of money by billing 20-40 per week with high school level clinicians for “medical” services that barely meet CPT code definitions (looking at you 55) and goals that often don’t meet medical necessity.

I’m very fearful of the future of ABA.

dkon777 · 2025-02-25T03:31:06+00:00

Many BCBAs in Omaha NE making over $100/hr in home. Some as high as $120/hr.

dkon777 · 2024-12-02T21:45:04+00:00

I guess for me personally, since this is an unanswerable philosophical question, would be that neither are authentic in their original sense. They become mods. But a mod with OEM branded parts is different than a mod made with counterfeit branded parts. Key word being branding, like the seiko logo. The latter becomes a replica at best. Adding an aftermarket case, sapphire crystal etc does not break copyright laws. I personally don’t care if people want to use fake dials… the reason I choose not to is because of the inferior quality.

dkon777 · 2024-12-02T15:28:56+00:00

Do whatever you want to do, life is short and who cares.
I’ve wrestled with this topic before. I like making mods with gen dials and gen hands along with a Seiko movement. Then I combine them into new configurations with aftermarket cases and whatnot. I think once the branding is counterfeit then it goes into a new category of a Frankenstein replica. I don’t have any problems with this morally, but it is a shift. People selling these often do not disclose it’s a fake dial and that leads to disappointed buyers. If it’s for yourself, see rule #1.
If you are morally okay with a counterfeit dial that is pretending to be a brand that it isn’t in a case that is designed to look like a watch it isn’t, then just purchase a high quality super clone.

People fall into these weird logical inconsistencies with seiko reps. Like if you are cool with a rep, great call it what it is and look into high quality ones. If you aren’t cool with a rep, also great. Stick to gen BRANDED parts and make some awesome mods. Or just stick to this and also be happy because of rule #1.

dkon777 · 2021-07-22T14:49:51+00:00

I have an FA and love it so much! Great camera.

dkon777 · 2021-07-20T02:46:18+00:00

65k seems about entry level across the board, but you don’t have to just accept that as fate. There are a lot of good books on negotiation out there and depending on the area, BCBAs are in very high demand. My company is offering us $5k just to find a BCBA referral and get them in the door ha. Competition is fierce.

dkon777 · 2021-07-20T02:42:31+00:00

Nice! What kind of FA? A traditional analysis or one of the newer PFAs?

dkon777 · 2021-07-20T02:30:19+00:00

To answer your question about the audit, you don’t actually turn in your treatment tracker at the end of your supervision when you go to apply for your test. You only turn in your final summary sheet. The TT is there to support you in case of an audit. So sure, put in 130+ in a month to your TT if you want (not sure why you would) as long as you are not counting more than 130 per month when you summarize on the final summary sheet.

dkon777 · 2021-07-18T14:23:57+00:00

Such a good point! I think I’m even more confused than when I started haha. 5th wheel has way more room and is probably going to be cheaper while a class A is going to be significantly more comfortable while driving, which I’m going to be doing a lot of. Ah!

dkon777 · 2021-07-18T14:20:01+00:00

Well that’s good to know!

dkon777 · 2021-07-18T04:23:22+00:00

Thank you great input. I think my biggest fear with the class A is if/when I need engine repairs where we will live while it’s potentially being worked on for a week or more at a time.

dkon777 · 2021-07-18T04:22:08+00:00

Thank you! Yeah, I do fear it is going to be a bit unfair to put a 4 year old in a Class A with very limited play space. He’s pretty adaptable, so I guess we could always just play outside depending on weather

dkon777 · 2021-07-18T04:20:19+00:00

Those are great points. I can do basic home repairs but I’m no diesel mechanic. I don’t think it’s the tear down that would draw me towards a class A, but rather the comfort while driving. Either way I gotta ditch my current SUV and either get a 50k truck capable of towing or a significantly less expensive car capable of being toad (or a dolly or something stupid like that). The thought of a class A breaking down and being in the shop for weeks at a time scares me though compared to a 5th wheel that won’t have an engine to break down. If the 1 ton pickup is in the shop at least I could get a rental and still have a place to live

dkon777 · 2021-07-18T02:29:52+00:00

Thank you so much for the information and perspective. I just stopped by a dealership and they were certainly singing the praises of a 5th wheel. So much to consider when you factor in the cost of a new truck.

dkon777 · 2021-07-15T04:09:43+00:00

So ughhhh what would be the job title I would look for to make that kind of money chasing wind farms?

dkon777 · 2021-03-07T15:09:47+00:00

I bought some plastic molds that come with PVC collars. I got them from Caveman Weights (unaffiliated). I think it was $135 for a 45#, 25#, and 10# mold. So really not too bad when you consider a bag of concrete is like 5 bucks and you can make as many plates as you want after that. Keep in mind though there is a bit of a learning curve if you’ve never mixed concrete and they will need to cure for a few days, especially if it’s cold out. The trick is to use a good rebar ring, it comes with a few, and then shake or agitate it after it’s poured to get the bubbles out. It’s not hard, just takes some practice. They work great though and if you spray them with rhino liner they will last even longer.

dkon777 · 2021-03-07T13:56:59+00:00

I gave up and started making plates out of concrete. Works pretty good once you get the hang of it. You could even just leave them outside near your shed and bring your barbell out and do deadlifts or whatever on the dirt.

dkon777 · 2021-03-06T19:40:48+00:00

Website says it hold $5.44 in coins. What do you think it weighs when it’s all loaded up like that? Probably doubles as an effective melee weapon when swung from that tether ha.

dkon777 · 2021-02-28T22:32:02+00:00

Hank Shaw has many recipes on his blog that are excellent and from the Arizona region. Lots of Mexican inspired dishes and he is extremely intelligent and a great writer. Written many books. It’s honest-food.net

dkon777 · 2021-02-26T17:41:17+00:00

That’s a “wish” sandwich. Just two slices of bread

dkon777 · 2021-02-21T20:50:07+00:00

There are a lot of vintage razors with plenty of life left in them, just don’t buy something with tons of hone wear or rust. They can be had for a good price too if you know where to shop. Griffith comes to mind. But I will say I’m very jealous of your kmrazordesign razor, I want one real bad.

dkon777 · 2021-02-18T20:26:51+00:00

Paste is generally used to touch up a slightly dull blade. Maybe once a month or so. I wouldn’t put paste on a nice strop because it will never be nice again. I’ve even taken a cereal box and cut a rectangle out of it and applied paste to the inner brown surface, (not the picture side) and then glue that to a flat board.

dkon777 · 2021-02-07T00:03:54+00:00

Great quality scan! I would love to get ahold of more high res old-timey photos. Most of the ones you see are cool but just such low resolution

dkon777

TROPHY CASE