In 2002 the first support program in the nation for college students on the autism spectrum was opened in Huntington. In 2011 West Virginia became the 25th state in the nation to adopt autism insurance coverage reform into law.
This means that today children have better access to autism screenings and treatments, including evidence-based best-practices like applied behavior analysis (ABA). Professionals who are recognized as being qualified to provide treatment include Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA®s).
The types of insurance plans affected by this new legislation include:
- Insurance plans for state employees – in 2011 this meant coverage for the state’s 51,327 employees and their families
- Insurance plans through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Large employer insurance plans
Thanks to insurance reform for autism spectrum disorders, the following stipulations now apply to these types of plans in the state:
- Coverage for autism diagnosis and treatment applies from when the time a child is 18 months old to 18 years old
- Coverage specifically includes ABA treatment, as well as treatments that are medically necessary
- ABA reimbursement coverage is capped at $30,000 per year for the first three years, and then capped at $2,000 per month for the remainder of treatment
Right now the huge demand for professionals who provide ABA treatments is helping to keep salary figures elevated. Experienced board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA®s) in West Virginia can earn salaries as high as $49,520 a year, according to 2021 statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Salaries for Experienced BCBA®s in the Largest Metropolitan areas of West Virginia
The range of salaries for board-certified behavior analysts with ten years of experience in the field are shown below (median to top 10% – current as of May, 2021):
Charleston:
- 50th: $42,280
- 75th: $47,690
- 90th: $51,590
Huntington-Ashland:
- 50th: $49,520
- 75th: $104,420
- 90th: $110,550
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area:
- 50th: $39,050
- 75th: $49,500
- 90th: $95,200
Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area:
- 50th: $39,430
- 75th: $49,770
- 90th: $80,810
Starting Salaries for BCBA®s in the Largest Metropolitan areas of West Virginia
The most highly paid BCBA®s in West Virginia who lack job experience in the field of behavior analysis can command salaries that exceed the median salary among highly experienced BCBA®s in the state. Salary data shown below for entry-level ABAs is current as of May 2021 (10th percentile to median):
Charleston:
- 10th: $31,140
- 25th: $39,430
- 50th: $42,280
Huntington-Ashland:
- 10th: $26,400
- 25th: $40,760
- 50th: $49,520
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area:
- 10th: $30,840
- 25th: $39,050
- 50th: $39,050
Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area:
- 10th: $31,140
- 25th: $39,190
- 50th: $39,430
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Psychologists, All Other reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2023.