KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany Military families with autistic children were relieved to learn a contentious new policy for autism treatment will not apply to them.
For all of the existing programs, there is no plan to implement more rigorous requirements during the next year, Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant defense secretary for health affairs, said during a July 11 conference call with reporters.
Military parents and advocacy groups took the news as Tricare easing restrictions on military families in the face of intense pressure. But in the conference call, Woodson denied that Tricare was backtracking.
Weve not changed any decision. Weve tried to put out clarifying information, he said.
Over the last 10 days or so, scores of military parents with autistic children, autism advocacy groups and members of Congress have loudly criticized the militarys healthcare system for implementing more restrictive rules for coverage of autism treatment, changes that Tricare quietly published in an updated policy manual late last month without notifying current beneficiaries.
The proposed rules, scheduled to take effect Thursday, include limiting coverage of special behavioral therapy to two years without a waiver; psychometric testing every six months to show measurable progress; and an age cutoff of 17, without a waiver.
Tricare officials now say those new restrictions only apply to a 12-month pilot program to expand autism therapy coverage to children of non-active duty and retired personnel, who previously could not access this benefit.
That definitely calms my nerves, said Air Force spouse Rebecca Breedlove-Berry, whose six-year-old son, Kent has autism spectrum disorder.
But, she added, My heart still really goes out to the retirees. Theyre still going to have to follow those new policy guidelines. In some cases were talking about wounded warriors, very young families who are very dependent on Tricare. I dont know how theyre going to receive all the services they need with those limitations.
Some autism advocacy organizations were cautious about the Tricare clarification, noting that the actual policy manual updated last month, which lays out the new rules and seems to clearly state they apply to all families, has yet to be changed on the Tricare website.
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Military parents of autistic children relieved by clarification on rules