TRICARE’s Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration (ACD) https://www.tricare.mil/acd program covers Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for all eligible TRICARE beneficiaries diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
To obtain care through the demonstration, the first step is to get diagnosed, obtain a referral and authorization, and then schedule an appointment. At the start of the pandemic last March, it was decided that the ACD program would continue to cover Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for beneficiaries diagnosed with ASD but all services would be combined into one comprehensive care plan.
Changes to the program began on May 1, 2021 with a roll out plan for all changes to go into effect by January 2022. The changes include:
- Trainings presented via telehealth to provide parental guidance beyond the national emergency due to the pandemic
- Parents of a child with ASD, will now have greater involvement in the development of the child’s care plan
- No longer will a confirmation of diagnosis be required to get continued care
- After Oct 1, 2021, TRICARE will assign an Autism Services Navigator to help develop a comprehensive care plan
- Providers will be able to bill for group services when clinically appropriate
- Additional outcome measures will become part of the program
- Previously accessible case management services will still remain available.
- The requirement to obtain Referral and Pre-Authorization from a TRICARE-authorized provider to receive services
- The ABA provider must conduct an ABA assessment and then develop an individual ABA treatment plan
- Outcome measures will need to be completed