Q1-2023 Autism Services Update

Q1-2023 Autism Services Update

Transaction activity in the ABA/autism services space remained steady in Q1 2023, as evidenced by six add-on acquisitions from larger consolidators. While the number of transactions decrease from Q1 2022, the outsized demand for autism services nationwide continues to draw investor interest. Labor/wage pressures and stagnant reimbursement rates persist across the space, potentially creating a challenging 2023 for smaller independent providers and leading to an uptick in add-on activity as compared to years passed.

Continuing trends from 2022, add-on acquisitions and the movement towards integrated services continue to be key transaction themes. In March, Point Quest, a school-based adolescent behavioral health provider, announced the acquisition of Pacific Coast Speech Services, a provider of speech therapy services to school districts in Southern California. The transaction expands Point Quest’s services from the Sacramento area to Los Angeles and San Diego. Furthermore, Trumpet Behavioral Health acquired Therapeutic Pathways in January. The transaction expands Trumpet’s ABA services in California and adds speech-language pathology. Lastly, The Stepping Stones Group, a national provider of diversified behavioral and educational services to children in a variety of settings, acquired Catalyst Speech, a school-based provider of speech-language pathology, further expanding its services in the Los Angeles area.

To print and download the full Autism Update report, please click below…

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