Bill > S2333

This bill, titled the "Caring for Military Children with Developmental Disabilities Act of 2014," amends Title 10 of the United States Code to ensure that TRICARE, the healthcare program for military personnel and their families, covers certain behavioral health treatments for individuals with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder. Specifically, it mandates that TRICARE will cover behavioral health treatments, such as applied behavior analysis (ABA), when prescribed by a doctor or psychologist. The bill also outlines requirements for the individuals providing these treatments, ensuring they are licensed or certified according to state laws or national standards, and allows for supervised trainees to provide services under certain conditions. Importantly, the bill establishes a dedicated "Defense Dependents Developmental Disabilities Account" to fund these treatments, with specific appropriations authorized and a significant transfer of funds from the Defense Health Program to ensure continuity of care. This measure aims to expand access to crucial behavioral health services for military families affected by developmental disabilities without negatively impacting existing TRICARE benefits.