Last reviewed: July 2026
Insurance requirements may change. The member’s current benefit plan and the payer’s current requirements govern coverage and authorization.
TRICARE East Through Humana Military
TRICARE covers ABA through the Autism Care Demonstration, commonly called the ACD. Behave Yourself LLC is a TRICARE-certified ABA provider in the East Region.
TRICARE has more program-specific requirements than most commercial insurance plans. Families may hear from Behave Yourself, Humana Military, an outreach coordinator, an Autism Services Navigator, an ASD-diagnosing provider, and their military program representatives at different stages of the process.
Before ABA Services Can Begin
TRICARE generally requires:
- A confirmed autism diagnosis
- Documentation showing the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and level of support
- A TRICARE-approved validated assessment supporting the diagnosis
- A referral from an approved ASD-diagnosing provider or Primary Care Manager when permitted
- Enrollment in the Autism Care Demonstration
- Completion of required outcome measures
- Prior authorization for the initial ABA assessment
- Approval of the treatment plan before ongoing treatment begins
For beneficiaries first diagnosed at age eight or older, TRICARE requires the ABA referral documentation to come from a specialized ASD-diagnosing provider rather than only a Primary Care Manager.
TRICARE does not backdate ABA referrals or authorizations. Behave Yourself cannot begin insurance-funded assessment or treatment until the appropriate authorization is active. Humana Military’s current authorization guidance
EFMP and ECHO for Active-Duty Families
Active-duty family members generally must be enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program and registered in the Extended Care Health Option to receive ABA through the Autism Care Demonstration.
Humana Military may provide an initial period for families to complete these requirements, but services can be interrupted if required registration is not completed. Families should tell me if they are still working through EFMP or ECHO enrollment so we can identify what remains outstanding.
Requirements may differ for retirees, reserve-component families, and families whose service branch does not maintain an EFMP. Humana Military can confirm what applies to the individual beneficiary.
Your Autism Services Navigator
Once eligibility requirements are met, TRICARE East assigns an Autism Services Navigator, or ASN. The ASN helps coordinate care and creates a Comprehensive Care Plan with the family.
Families must participate in the initial ASN assessment and subsequent care-plan updates. The initial Comprehensive Care Plan is generally completed within 90 days of ASN assignment and updated every six months.
Please share your ASN’s name and contact information with me once one has been assigned. The ASN can be especially helpful when a family moves, the sponsor’s status changes, or a previous ABA provider is being replaced. TRICARE East ACD Welcome Guide
Caregiver Training and Outcome Measures
TRICARE makes caregiver participation a required part of ABA treatment. The first caregiver-training session must occur within 30 days of starting treatment. Families are expected to participate in at least one caregiver-training session per month and at least six sessions during each six-month treatment period.
TRICARE also requires standardized outcome measures at specific intervals. Families may be asked to complete parent rating forms before treatment and again during reauthorization. These measures are separate from the client’s individualized treatment data and are required to maintain authorization.
I will explain which forms or caregiver-training requirements are due and help families plan for them.
Transferring From Another ABA Provider
TRICARE permits only one primary ABA supervisor and one active treatment authorization at a time. If a beneficiary is currently authorized with another ABA provider, that authorization may need to be ended or transferred before Behave Yourself can receive a new authorization.
Please tell me about any current or recent ABA provider during our initial conversation. This helps prevent delays caused by an authorization that is still assigned elsewhere.
What TRICARE Families Should Have Ready
When contacting Behave Yourself, it is helpful to know:
- The beneficiary’s current TRICARE plan
- Whether the autism diagnosis and validated assessment are available
- The date and source of the most recent ABA referral
- Whether EFMP and ECHO requirements have been completed
- Whether an ASN has been assigned
- Whether another ABA provider currently holds an authorization
- Whether any required outcome measures are overdue
- The family’s expected military move, retirement, separation, or coverage-change dates
Families can contact the TRICARE East ACD team at 866-323-7155 or send a secure message through their Humana Military beneficiary account.
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