Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration Analysis

This technical report presents an analysis of the Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration (ACD) initiated by the Defense Health Agency (DHA) in 2014. The report evaluates the implementation of methods used by the ACD and assesses its utilization by military-connected families. It examines the alignment of ACD policies with applied behavior analysis (ABA) industry guidelines and standards of care, as well as the impact of these policies on families. The analysis was conducted by a multidisciplinary committee that reviewed empirical literature, analyzed TRICARE claims data, and gathered insights from stakeholders. Key findings indicate that while ABA services are effective, ACD policies impose excessive administrative burdens that hinder access to care for military families. The report concludes with recommendations for DHA to transition ABA to a TRICARE Basic benefit, eliminate unnecessary assessments, reduce barriers to access, and align coverage with clinical best practices to better serve military families with autism.