Tricare is the health benefit program (insurance) of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. Tricare provides civilian health benefits for all branches of the US military, military retirees, and their dependents, including some Reserves.
The purpose of this petition is to show support and raise awareness for Tricare to at least reconsider covering direct patient therapy, and supervision and evaluation by BCBAs via Telehealth during this time of social distancing. For informational purposes these are insurance billing codes 97153, 97155, 97151.

Prior to COVID-19, Tricare covered ABA therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis) for beneficiaries on the Autism Spectrum, or ASD. (Autism Spectrum Disorders). Sometimes direct therapy was done in centers, other times it was done in the home in the patient's natural environment. Because of COVID-19, the country is now on lockdown and all direct therapy care has stopped indefinitely. 

Several companies are providing ABA services such as direct therapy, and supervision and evaluation by BCBAs via Telehealth. Tricare families can't benefit from these services because Tricare is not covering these services during the COVID-19 crisis. Training sessions via Telehealth are being covered by Tricare for caregivers/parents only. While that is appreciated, it would be far more beneficial for all services to be covered during this unprecedented time. 

My husband is active duty in the Navy and our family has Tricare. Our 8-year-old daughter is on the Autism Spectrum and has been receiving in-home ABA therapy for the past 6 months. Schools where we live (Washington State) have closed until at least June. My daughter is now quarantined at home away from her friends and family. With so many changes in her environment, it is critical to her success that therapy continues by a professional. We are just one of thousands of other families affected by this. I have a friend who has informed me that her daughter is receiving speech therapy that is virtual and covered by Tricare. Why should ABA therapy be any different? 
If you are a Tricare family directly affected by this, I encourage you to call Tricare and respectfully ask them to cover these services. We are strongest in numbers.
East Region: 1-800-444-5445 
West Region: 1-844-866-9378
Thank you sincerely for your time and consideration, Kaitlynn Gracier