MILITARY LIFE

MILITARY FAMILIES BENEFIT FROM AUTISM CARE DEMONSTRATION POLICY CHANGES

If you're an active-duty military family with a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, you'll want to learn more about the comprehensive changes to the Autism Care Demonstration (health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Access-Cost-Quality-and-Safety/TRICARE-Health-Plan/TRICARE/ACD) authorized by the Defense Health Agency.

The changes expand the ACD to center around the needs of the individual child, integrating all potential services to achieve the best possible outcomes. These updates to TRICARE’s ACD program (www.tricare.mil/autism) help TRICARE better address

the needs of family members with ASD and give parents more input in developing the care plan for their child. Parent training is an important new focus of the ACD and providers must now start parent training within 30 days of the initial authorization period.