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Scott Dickson

Scott Dickson

Los Angeles

Solution expert with ABA provider, platform & payor experience. I specialize in systems assessments, intelligent automation, and data-driven decision support to solve complex operational challenges at scale.

Provider Consolidation Reality: Why Value Breaks Before It’s Realized

Provider Consolidation Reality: Why Value Breaks Before It’s Realized

Context for this post March 2026 theme: Why Autism Care Is Ripe for Consolidation—and Why It Keeps Failing Autism care is often described as “ripe for consolidation.” Demand exceeds supply. Fragmentation remains high. Many operators are founder-led and operationally stretched. And yet—despite years of capital inflow—provider M&

The Medicaid Autism “Racket”? A Systems & Process Problem Hiding Inside the Headlines

The Medicaid Autism “Racket”? A Systems & Process Problem Hiding Inside the Headlines

A recent editorial in The Wall Street Journal titled “The Medicaid Autism Racket” argues that behavioral therapy payments have become an easy target for fraud. The article points to federal audits and enforcement actions highlighting improper payments and documentation failures across several state Medicaid programs. Fraud certainly exists in healthcare,

Autism M&A Is Active — But True Consolidation Still Hasn’t Arrived

Autism M&A Is Active — But True Consolidation Still Hasn’t Arrived

Autism care is often described as a sector poised for consolidation. Demand continues to rise. Workforce shortages persist. Payors increasingly favor scale. Private equity has invested billions into autism services providers over the past decade. On paper, the ingredients for large-scale consolidation appear to be in place. And yet, when

Operator Spotlight: Wild Sun Behavioral Services - Preserving a Human Centered Care Model

Operator Spotlight: Wild Sun Behavioral Services - Preserving a Human Centered Care Model

Wild Sun Behavioral Services was never designed to scale aggressively. When founder Daniel Kurty first opened the practice in Colorado, the plan was intentionally modest: stay close to the work, deliver care thoughtfully, and avoid becoming the kind of organization he had struggled within earlier in his career. “I was

February 2026 Platform SCUBA Update

February 2026 Platform SCUBA Update

Theme: Measured platform activity entering Q1 conference season Platform activity moderated this month. Major feature launches were limited. Most visible updates centered on incremental workflow additions, partnerships, and positioning signals. With CalABA approaching in March, several updates feel timed for booth traffic rather than structural shifts. 📉 Market Signals & Hiring

Why Autism Care Is Ripe for Consolidation — and Why It Keeps Failing

Why Autism Care Is Ripe for Consolidation — and Why It Keeps Failing

Recent events — from valuation compression in vertical healthcare software to restructuring within managed behavioral health — reinforce how unsettled parts of the autism ecosystem remain. Capital markets are reassessing durability assumptions. Infrastructure bets are being recalibrated. But even if financing conditions stabilize and enterprise platforms regain footing, provider consolidation faces a

Provider SCUBA February 2026 Snapshot

Provider SCUBA February 2026 Snapshot

Theme: The Market Is Sorting in Real Time ⚠️ Methodology Reminder SCUBA = Scott’s Completely Unscientific Behaviorist Assessment — a deliberately imperfect, directional look at staffing momentum across ABA providers. This is not a census. LinkedIn undercounts direct-care staff, headcount lags payroll, and public job postings reflect intent more than execution. But