Sunshine Behavioral Health Services says it is expanding access to applied behavior analysis therapy across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. In an announcement issued from Key Largo on Sept. 16, the company said it provides ABA services for children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder in homes, schools, therapy centers and through telehealth.
The announcement, carried by democratandchronicle.com, says Sunshine has served more than 5,000 families in the region. That figure, along with the company's claims about four-county availability, appointment timing and insurer participation, is company-reported and does not by itself establish openings, network status or approval for a particular child.
What the provider says it offers
On its website, Sunshine describes in-home care as treatment in a child's ordinary surroundings and school-based care as coordination with teachers and exceptional-student-education staff. The company also describes center-based treatment and telehealth, including remote parent training and BCBA-supervised sessions. It says treatment plans begin with a functional behavior assessment and may address communication, social skills, daily routines and behavior reduction.
The company says it provides parent training, progress reports and services in English and Spanish. It also promotes early-intervention services for children ages 2 to 5. These are descriptions of Sunshine's stated model, not independent findings about its results or capacity.
Medicaid coverage is separate from geographic reach
For families using Florida Medicaid, a provider's stated service area is only one part of the access question. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration says Medicaid covers medically necessary behavior-analysis services for eligible recipients under age 21. The agency also says that all behavior-analysis services require prior authorization to be reimbursed.
AHCA advises parents and guardians to confirm that a behavior-analysis provider is enrolled in the child's managed-care plan. Its guidance says providers generally must contract with the enrollee's health plan to receive reimbursement for services, subject to applicable continuity-of-care rules. Families should therefore ask both Sunshine and their health plan whether the specific clinician, location and treatment plan are covered.
A transition rule offers limited historical context
During a statewide Florida Medicaid managed-care transition described by AHCA on April 23, 2025, plans were required to honor existing behavior-analysis prior authorizations for at least 90 days during the continuity-of-care period. That policy was a transition measure; it does not establish Sunshine's current network participation, guarantee continued authorization or show that services are available in each of the four counties.
Questions families should ask
Before beginning care, families can ask which settings are currently available near them, whether a BCBA will supervise the treatment, what the assessment and authorization process requires, and whether the provider accepts the child's particular plan. They should also confirm expected wait times, the frequency of parent training, cancellation policies and whether telehealth is appropriate for the child's needs.
Sunshine lists a consultation phone number, (305) 998-4248, and the email address [email protected]. Availability, fees, insurance participation and authorization requirements should be verified for each child rather than inferred from the company's regional announcement.
