How Akoya Behavioral Health Scaled Fast Using Lumary’s ABA Practice Management Software

When Akoya Behavioral Health launched in late 2023, co-founders Yitz Miller and Ian Santus, had a clear vision: grow quickly while maintaining the highest standards of care for families in Metro Detroit. Like many start-ups in the ABA space, Akoya faced the challenge of building strong operational systems from scratch — systems that could support sustainable growth rather than patchwork fixes.

Akoya’s solution was strategic: adopt Lumary’s Salesforce-based ABA practice management platform early in the organization’s lifecycle. That decision has proved transformational, enabling Akoya to streamline workflows, enhance operational clarity, and expand services without sacrificing quality.

From Startup to Scalable Operations

One of the first challenges for Akoya was establishing reliable intake and onboarding processes. Before Lumary, intake often relied on manual tools like spreadsheets, leading to fragmented data and inefficiencies. Akoya chose Lumary not just as software, but as an operational backbone — a single platform to unify data, streamline intake from multiple channels, and automate processes that typically slow early growth.

By integrating tools such as telephony and online webforms directly into Lumary, Akoya eliminated manual duplication and reduced errors. Automated onboarding ensured that compliance steps were always completed, giving the team confidence that new client journeys started smoothly and consistently. As COO and co-founder Ian Santus noted,

“We always worried about where the source of truth was… With Lumary as our CRM, not only do we know we have the latest information, but we also can report on it, analyze it, and make quick decisions.”

Streamlining Workflows Across the Organization

Operational clarity was a game-changer. Prior to Lumary, staff often spent valuable time tracking down updates or determining where the most current client information lived. The fragmented communication slowed decisions and sometimes created frustration.

With all operational workflows consolidated into Lumary — from intake to client records — information became instantly accessible and reliable across teams. Leaders could see real-time status updates, frontline clinicians had the context they needed, and the entire organization aligned around a unified data source.This newfound alignment translated directly into better service delivery and stronger internal coordination.

“Our workflow smoothed out, our team was more informed, and as a result, we were able to help support more families in a more scalable CRM.” – Ian Santus

Rethinking Billing and Revenue Management

Revenue cycle management (RCM) is often a make-or-break function for emerging ABA practices. Akoya initially had visibility into claims and payments but lacked efficient systems to manage corrections and complex payer requirements — especially with Michigan Medicaid, known for its nuanced county-specific rules.

Partnering with Lumary for RCM services changed that. Not only did Akoya reduce the administrative burden of billing, but the organization also gained confidence in navigating complicated payer landscapes. With automated patient statements, faster reimbursement cycles, and transparent collections reporting, Akoya’s leadership had clearer financial insights than ever before.

“We struggled to manage the complexities of billing, which is why we switched to Lumary… they delivered on that promise, and in a remarkably short period of time.” Ian Santus

Using Data to Drive Decisions

For clinical and operational leaders alike, reliable data is essential. Before Lumary, reporting often meant cobbling together spreadsheets or relying on incomplete views of performance. With Lumary’s dashboards and analytics, Akoya’s leadership gained actionable insights into utilization, revenue trends, compliance, and more.

The integration with Hi Rasmus, a clinical data platform, further enriched this picture by connecting operational and clinical metrics. Staff could access meaningful insights from daily operations through to high-level performance indicators.

“Reporting and dashboards have always been my favorite feature… the integration with Lumary was the icing on the cake,” –  Ian Santus

More Than Technology: A True Partnership

What sets Akoya’s experience apart isn’t just the technology — it’s the partnership. The Lumary team became an extension of Akoya’s own, offering support from technical expertise to billing strategy and compliance consultation. That collaboration accelerated implementation and ensured Akoya didn’t just adopt a tool, but built operational maturity.

“Lumary has some genuinely amazing, talented, and intelligent people on their team… I can ask any question and I know someone there not only knows the answer, but is ready and willing to jump in,” Ian Santus

Looking Ahead

In less than two years, Akoya has grown from a two-person vision to a 130+ team serving hundreds of families across Michigan. Over the past 12 months alone, Akoya has experienced 255% revenue growth and a 286% increase in billable hours — metrics that reflect not only expansion but operational strength.

But beyond the numbers, the story is about building a sustainable, scalable foundation that supports clinicians, informs leadership decisions, and ultimately improves care delivery. With Lumary as a partner, Akoya is well positioned for continued growth and impact — reaching more families with the quality services they deserve