Getting an Autism Diagnosis in Spokane, Washington

In the Spokane area, autism evaluation is available through several routes, with the right one depending on your child's age and your insurance.

Where evaluations happen in Spokane:

• Developmental-behavioral pediatricians at Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital and in private practice
• Pediatric psychologists and neuropsychologists specializing in autism
• Northwest Autism Center — Spokane-based, providing diagnostic services for the Inland Northwest
• Centers of Excellence (COE) providers — required for Apple Health Medicaid families

The Centers of Excellence model — important for Apple Health families. Washington Medicaid uses a Centers of Excellence framework: only COE-certified providers can diagnose autism in a way that triggers Apple Health's ABA coverage. Anyone can refer a child to a COE — some require a primary care referral, some accept self-referral. If your child has Apple Health, going through a COE from the start avoids having to repeat the process later. As of late 2024, COE diagnoses are also accepted for Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) eligibility.

Wait times. Specialty autism evaluation in Spokane commonly takes several months to over a year, depending on the provider, payer, and current capacity. Eastern Washington generally has fewer specialty providers than the Seattle metro, which can mean longer waits. Some private clinical psychologists offer shorter timelines, particularly with out-of-pocket payment.

Rural and cross-border families. Spokane serves as the diagnostic hub for the broader Inland Northwest — rural eastern Washington and North Idaho families frequently travel to Spokane for evaluation. North Idaho families should note insurance network considerations when using Washington providers.

For children under 3: You don't need to wait for a medical diagnosis to start services. Self-refer to Washington's Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program — ESIT evaluates based on developmental delay within 45 days, at no cost, regardless of income.

For school-age children: Request a special education evaluation from your school district in writing. School eligibility is determined independently of medical diagnosis and follows legally required timelines.