Three names come up constantly for Miami families whose children get ABA through Medicaid: Molina Healthcare, Sunshine Health and the CMS Health Plan. Since October 1, 2026 the relationship between them is settled, and it is worth being clear about who runs what today.
The three plans, as of today
Molina Healthcare runs a full Medicaid line in Florida: standard Medicaid (MMA), Medicaid with long-term care, a Marketplace plan, a specialty plan and, since October 1, 2026, the CMS Health Plan.
Sunshine Health (Centene) is still a Medicaid managed care plan with its own MMA members. It no longer administers 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, and that contract now belongs to Molina.
Beaton Care Services is contracted across Molina's full Florida line, including the CMS Plan, and remains in-network with Sunshine Health for MMA.
What changed for CMS families, and what did not
- Enrollment was automatic. CMS Plan members were moved to Molina without applying. Your child should have a Molina ID card; if it never arrived, call the number on the old card or ask us to verify eligibility.
- Benefits did not change. ABA is covered under the same Florida Medicaid coverage policy: a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, the Vineland-3 and BASC-3, and treatment authorized in six-month cycles.
- Authorizations approved before the switch are honored during Molina's continuity-of-care period. They do not last forever, though, so the end date matters more than it used to.
- Provider contracts did not transfer. A provider that was contracted with Sunshine for the CMS Plan must hold its own Molina contract to keep serving CMS members after the continuity period.
Three things to check this month
- The authorization end date. Ask your provider for the exact date the current ABA authorization expires and confirm that the renewal will be submitted to Molina, not Sunshine. A renewal sent to the wrong plan is the most common reason therapy pauses after a transition.
- Your provider's Molina status. Ask, in writing, whether they are contracted with Molina for the CMS Health Plan. "We are in-network with Molina" is not the same answer; the CMS Plan is a specific contract.
- The ID card. Make sure the plan has your current address and phone. Letters about authorizations and renewals go to the address on file.
If your child is on Sunshine Health MMA (not CMS)
Nothing changed for you. Sunshine remains your plan, and we remain in-network with Sunshine.
If your provider is not in Molina's CMS network
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. Done inside the continuity-of-care window, the switch is paperwork rather than a gap in therapy.
Starting ABA under Molina CMS for the first time
The path is the same as for any Florida Medicaid plan: a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation by a licensed practitioner, a referral for ABA from your child's doctor, then the BCBA's assessment (Vineland-3, BASC-3, functional behavior assessment) and the treatment plan, which Molina authorizes in six-month blocks. We handle everything after the referral and most families begin two to four weeks after approval.
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.