Current Projects

TRICARE Autism Care Demonstration (ACD) Reform & Legislative Oversight

Status: Active | Major Legislative Milestone Achieved (June 2026)

The Military Family Advocacy Group (MFAG) is leading a targeted, data-driven initiative to reform systemic healthcare access gaps facing military dependents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Driven by our comprehensive policy research and cost-analysis models, this project focuses on restoring clinical integrity to the TRICARE network and protecting military families from arbitrary coverage limitations.

Core Objectives of Section 746

Our ongoing work focuses on defending and auditing this critical statutory provision, which holds the Defense Health Agency (DHA) directly accountable to Congress for the following mandates:

NASEM Study Enforcement: Forcing a transparent timeline and execution plan to implement the recommendations of the landmark September 2025 National Academies (NASEM) study, including the transition of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) into a permanent, basic TRICARE medical benefit.
Ending Setting Restrictions: Requiring the DHA to justify the systemic denial of one-on-one Behavior Technician support in natural settings, specifically targeting the lifting of the "School Exclusion Rule" for dependents with documented life-safety risks (such as pica, elopement, and self-injurious behavior).
Clinical Definition Realignment: Auditing the DHA's practice of classifying core neurological sensory deficits (under DSM-5 Criterion B.4) as non-medical "activities of daily living" or "educational tasks" to deny coverage.
T-5 Contract Transition Audit: Demanding full transparency regarding provider network attrition, claims processing backlogs, and regional "care deserts" that have disrupted continuity of care since the contract transition went live.
Exposing Taxpayer Cost-Shifting: Quantifying the hidden public financial exposure created when TRICARE service shortfalls force military families to dual-enroll dependents in state-funded Medicaid, CHIP, or state disability waiver pathways.
Securing a Seat at the Table: Mandating the creation of the NASEM-recommended Independent Advisory Council, ensuring that grassroots military family advocacy organizations and independent clinical experts are structurally written into federal oversight.

Recent Milestone: Direct Impact on the FY2027 NDAA

Following high-level briefings and a rigorous advocacy campaign coordinated by MFAG with key congressional offices, our core policy recommendations have been successfully integrated directly into the foundational baseline text of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) under Military Personnel (MLP) Subcommittee Mark, Section 746.

Moving a policy priority from an outside recommendation to baseline statutory text represents a massive structural victory, ensuring our objectives have maximum legislative weight as the defense bill moves toward final passage.

Next Steps & Strategy

MFAG is currently executing a coordinated, bicameral defense strategy alongside the personal offices of Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) and Senator Tim Scott (SC). We are actively conducting technical reviews of the legislative text to close any potential administrative loopholes and are priming our network of credentialed providers and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) to defend Section 746 through upcoming committee markups, floor debates, and the end-of-year Conference Committee negotiations.