ABA authorization calculator
How do I track authorized ABA units against what I've delivered?
To track an ABA authorization, compare two fractions each week: how much of the period has elapsed versus how much of the authorized units you have delivered. Delivering ahead of pace means the units run out early; behind pace means approved care goes undelivered. This calculator does the projection in one pass and tells you when to start the reauthorization request.
Written by Operation Optimize editorial team
Rules version 2026.08 · Verified against the BACB source on 2026-09-23
Authorization pacing calculator
Enter the authorization exactly as the approval letter states it. Everything stays in your browser.
Period elapsed
49%
Authorized used
33%
Projected use by end date
647 units
Remaining
640 units
Days left in period
92
Run-out risk
None at current pace
Start reauthorization by
2026-11-24
Behind pace — approved care is going undelivered. Investigate cancellations and staffing before the units expire.
The projection assumes today's delivery pace continues. Reauthorization lead times vary by payer — confirm yours in the plan's provider manual. Educational tool, not billing advice.
How it is calculated
Enter the authorization exactly as the approval letter states it — in units or in hours. Most ABA billing codes are 15-minute units, so 4 units equal one hour; the calculator converts for you.
The pace check divides elapsed days by total period days, then compares that against the fraction of authorized units already delivered. A gap of more than about ten percentage points in either direction is worth acting on.
The projection assumes your current daily delivery pace continues to the end date, and shows the run-out date when that pace would exhaust the units early.
Reauthorization timing counts backwards from the period end by the lead time you set — many providers work to 30–45 days — because the submission date, not the end date, is the deadline that protects continuity.
pace gap = (units delivered ÷ units authorized) − (days elapsed ÷ days in period)
Worked example
- Authorization: 960 units (15-minute units, so 240 hours) from 1 July to 31 December — about 184 days.
- Today is 29 September: 91 days elapsed, roughly 49% of the period.
- Delivered so far: 420 units (105 hours), which is 44% of the authorization.
- Daily pace: 105 ÷ 91 ≈ 1.15 hours/day; projection to 31 December: about 212 hours total.
Result: About 5 percentage points behind pace — roughly 28 hours of approved care will go undelivered unless scheduling changes.
Official sources and effective dates
- CMS — Interoperability and Prior Authorization final ruleFederal prior-authorization framework
- MACPAC — EPSDT in MedicaidCurrent
Cross-checked against published sources on 2026-09-23. These pages summarize publicly published certification requirements and are not certification advice — always confirm current requirements with the certifying body.
Related questions
- How many ABA units are in an hour?
- Most ABA billing codes are defined in 15-minute units, so one hour equals 4 units. Check each code's definition in the payer's fee schedule or your contract — the calculator also supports 30- and 60-minute units.
- What happens if authorized units run out before the period ends?
- Claims beyond the approved units are typically denied. When the projection shows an early run-out, options include requesting a modification, adjusting scheduling, or accelerating the next reauthorization.
- What happens if we don't use all the authorized units?
- Unused units expire with the period. They represent approved care that was not delivered, and a pattern of under-use can invite closer review at the next reauthorization.
- When should a reauthorization request be submitted?
- At least 30 days before the current period ends — earlier when the payer's stated lead time is longer. The calculator shows the submission date for the lead time you set.
- Does this calculator work for Medicaid and commercial authorizations?
- Yes — the pacing math is identical. Only the authorization's own units, dates and the payer's lead time differ.
Keep the whole picture in one place
A free Professional Passport keeps your own certifications, payer identifiers and renewals alongside the records you build here — so the credentials every submission depends on never lapse unnoticed.
Save to Professional PassportRelated free tools
Embed this calculator on your site
Free to use on training-provider, university and association sites. Paste this snippet where the calculator should appear. It stays anonymous — no visitor data is collected — and it keeps a visible link back to the full tool.
<iframe src="https://operation-optimize.com/embed/aba-authorization-calculator" title="ABA authorization calculator" width="100%" height="700" style="border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" loading="lazy"></iframe>Related resources
Guides that explain the requirement behind this tool in full.
- ABA authorizations explained — The full authorization lifecycle, Medicaid vs. commercial differences, and the tracking that prevents lapses.
- Tracking authorized ABA units — The pace math, unit conversions, and the two ways a period goes wrong.
- ABA reauthorization timelines — Lead times, the progress documentation payers expect, and a scheduling method that prevents gaps.
- How ABA prior authorization works — The request, the documents, the review, and the decision — step by step.
Machine-readable version of this page: /tools/aba-authorization-calculator.md