Three names come up constantly for Miami families whose children get ABA through Medicaid: Molina Healthcare, Sunshine Health and the CMS Health Plan. As of October 1, 2026 the relationship between them changes, and it is worth being clear about what each one is.
The three plans, briefly
Sunshine Health is a Medicaid managed care plan (Centene). It has its own Medicaid members, and until September 30, 2026 it also administers the CMS Health Plan.
Molina Healthcare is a Medicaid managed care plan too. In Florida it now runs a full line: standard Medicaid (MMA), Medicaid with long-term care, a Marketplace plan, a specialty plan, and, from October 1, 2026, the CMS Health Plan.
The CMS Health Plan (Children's Medical Services) is Florida Medicaid's plan for children with special health care needs. Many children with autism who qualify clinically are enrolled in it. It is not a separate insurer; it is a program that a contracted plan administers. That contract is what is moving from Sunshine to Molina.
What happens on October 1
- Enrollment is automatic. CMS Plan members move to Molina without applying. A new Molina ID card arrives by mail.
- Benefits don't change. ABA remains covered under the same Florida Medicaid coverage policy: comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, Vineland-3 and BASC-3, six-month authorizations.
- Existing authorizations are honored during a continuity-of-care period, so a plan approved by Sunshine in August does not vanish in October.
- Provider contracts do not transfer. This is the important one. A provider contracted with Sunshine for the CMS Plan must contract directly with Molina to keep serving CMS members after the continuity period. Ask your provider now whether they are in Molina's network for the CMS Plan.
Beaton Care Services is contracted across Molina's full Florida line, including the CMS Plan, so our families do not change anything.
If your child is on regular Sunshine Medicaid (not CMS)
Nothing changes for you on October 1. Sunshine continues as your plan, and we remain in-network with Sunshine.
If your ABA provider is not joining Molina
You have options. You can switch to an in-network provider without losing hours; the new provider requests your child's records and current treatment plan and submits a transfer authorization to Molina. Start that conversation before October so the paperwork is done during the continuity window rather than after it.
A checklist for the next three weeks
- Confirm which plan your child is actually on (the card says CMS Plan / Sunshine today).
- Ask your ABA provider, in writing, whether they are contracted with Molina for CMS.
- Keep every scheduled session; do not pause therapy "until things settle."
- Update your address and phone with the plan so the new card reaches you.
- Put the CDE, current treatment plan, latest Vineland-3 and BASC-3, and the IEP or 504 plan in one folder.
Questions about your child's situation? Call 786-612-1151 or visit molina-cms.com. A bilingual member of our team responds within one business day. Beaton Care Services is an independent provider and is not affiliated with Molina Healthcare, Sunshine Health or the Florida Department of Health.