Larson Amendment to Assist Military Families with Children on the Autism Spectrum Passes in House
Washington – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to the FY 2017 Department of Defense Appropriations Act led by Reps. John B. Larson (D-CT-01), Tom Rooney (R-FL-17), and Chris Smith (R-NJ-04) to assist military families with children on the autism spectrum. Earlier this year, TRICARE—the health insurance program for active duty and retired military personnel and families—drastically cut reimbursement rates for applied behavior analysis (ABA). ABA is a widely recognized treatment for children on the autism spectrum, already covered by most private insurers. Larson and Rooney’s amendment restores previous reimbursement rates, removing a potentially significant barrier to families who need access to ABA.
“With everything our servicemembers and their families give to our country, we should not hesitate to provide the care they need in return,” said Larson. “Every military family makes sacrifices, but they should never be asked to sacrifice the health and wellbeing of their children. I was extremely proud to work with Reps. Rooney and Smith on this effort. They have been great champions for our military families.”
Larson has won several bipartisan victories to make ABA a permanent benefit in TRICARE. Last month, Larson’s amendment passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Today’s victory ensures the measure is funded so military families receive the help they need.
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