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North Carolina ABA Medicaid rates

Rates from news reports

Current published Medicaid rates, dated changes, and what they mean. Last checked Oct 20, 2026.

Current rates

97153 · Technician direct therapy (RBT)
$20.81 per 15 min · $83.24/hr
Reported: news source
Effective
restored to 2025-09-30 level
Source
Acuity News: NC Medicaid ABA rates restored
Checked
Oct 20, 2026
Note
Per trade press after the Dec 2025 reversal; primary NC fee schedule not yet fetched.
97155 · Protocol modification (BCBA)
$32.22 per 15 min · $128.88/hr
Reported: news source
Effective
restored to 2025-09-30 level
Source
Acuity News: NC Medicaid ABA rates restored
Checked
Oct 20, 2026
Note
Per trade press; primary fee schedule not yet fetched.

What it means

For clinic owners

The 10% cut of Oct 1, 2025 was reversed after court rulings, and rates were restored to Sept 30, 2025 levels with claims reprocessed. The bigger change now is HB 696 (Session Law 2026-1); read the ratified text for its ABA oversight rules. NCDHHS said in Dec 2025 that Medicaid was still underfunded, so watch for new budget actions.

For BCBAs & RBTs

Trade press reports HB 696 limits telehealth supervision and sets a minimum supervision level. BCBAs should check how their supervision schedules line up with it.

Margin check: 97153

Plug in your own numbers. These example inputs are placeholders, not survey data.

Change log

  • New lawEnactedApr 30, 2026

    HB 696 signed (Session Law 2026-1)

    Medicaid oversight law signed by the Governor Apr 30, 2026. Trade press reports it includes ABA rules such as in-person assessment requirements, a 50% telehealth supervision cap and a minimum supervision floor; read the ratified text for exact provisions.

    Source: NC General Assembly: H696 / SL 2026-1 · Verified: official source · checked Oct 20, 2026
  • Rate restoredIn effectDec 10, 2025

    10% ABA cut reversed

    After court rulings, NCDHHS reversed the Oct 1, 2025 rate reductions and restored Sept 30, 2025 rates; updated fee schedules targeted for Jan 5, 2026, with claims reprocessed.

    Source: NC Medicaid: Rate Reduction Reversal Update (Dec 19, 2025) · Verified: official source · checked Oct 20, 2026
  • Rate cutReversedOct 1, 2025

    10% cut to RB-BHT/ABA codes (later reversed)

    State budget rate reductions cut RB-BHT codes 97151-97157 by 10%.

    Source: NC Medicaid SPA #25-0026 public notice · Verified: official source · checked Oct 20, 2026

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Sources