TriCare ECHO Autism Demonstration Program

Reinforcement Unlimited, LLC Providers
Approved as TriCare ECHO
and Autism Demonstration Program Providers

Dr. Robert Montgomery has been an approved TriCare provider as a psychologist for many years. This has allowed us to support our troops by providing evaluations and treatment planning consultation to them for their dependents. Recently, the DoD has approved implementation of a Demonstration Project to add additional services and supports to dependents with Autism Spectrum disorder of Active Duty personnel.

The Department of Defense offers access to ABA services to dependents of Active Duty Personnel under specific circumstances. The program through which ABA services are supported is called the "ECHO" Program - Extended Care Health Option. Dr. Christine Montgomery, Joseph Cermak, and Rachael Coplin have been approved as BCBA providers under TriCare's ECHO & ECHO Demonstration programs. Additionally, they and many of our therapists have received approval to participate as providers under the Educational Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders (EIA) Demonstration Project which allows for the use of Therapists under the supervision of an approved-BCBA provider for the first time. No longer will only services directly provided by the BCBA be reimbursed through TriCare, now it is possible (again under very specific circumstances) for the services of the non-BCBA therapists to also be reimbursed under this program.

APRIL 2009 - UPDATE: We have been notified that recent action in Congress has raised the Annual amount for the ECHO Demonstration program from $30,000 per year to $36,000 per year with no limit on the monthly allocation.

The following is taken from the TriCare South Website for your information. Please refer directly to TriCare, Humana, and the Department of Defense for complete and current information on any policy, procedure, regulation, or other matter related to your health insurance and associated programs.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) affects human behaviors such as social interaction, communication, imagination and relationships. It is estimated that nearly 8,500 children of active duty service members have ASD. The Enhanced Access to Autism Services Demonstration will test the feasibility and advisability of permitting TRICARE reimbursement for Educational Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders (EIA) services delivered by paraprofessional providers.

The Demonstration will help the Department of Defense determine whether:

A number of EIA services, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), have been introduced to treat ASD. Currently ABA is the only EIA service accepted within the Military Health System (MHS) as having been shown to reduce or eliminate specific problem behaviors and teach new skills to children with ASD. ABA therapy is provided by TRICARE-authorized providers as a Special Education benefit under the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO).

This Demonstration will permit TRICARE reimbursement for EIA services delivered by paraprofessionals known as EIA Tutors. These paraprofessionals deliver care under the strict supervision of TRICARE-authorized licensed or certified providers.

Individual therapy is covered under the Demonstration; group EIA sessions are not a TRICARE benefit. The maximum benefit through both the Demonstration and the ECHO program may not exceed $2500 per beneficiary in any single month.

For further information please contact TriCare, Humana, the DoD, or the health services support personnel on your base/duty station.

We will be happy to discuss our services with you and assist in any way that we can in helping you obtain the best services possible for your family. You may contact us at 770-591-9552.