Today, the House of Representatives adopted an amendment to the annual defense policy bill that will ensure military families with a child with autism will continue to have access to a key intervention therapy. US Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), founder and co-chair of the House Autism Caucus and a co-author of the amendment, issued the following statement:

     “Military life presents unique challenges for children with autism and their families, given the frequent changes of residence and schools, and the prolonged absences of a parent. In this context, coverage of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy is even more necessary to help military children adjust day-to-day, while also improving outcomes over the long term.

     “The Administration’s reduction in the reimbursement rates for ABA for military children with autism could jeopardize access to this critical therapy. ABA is proven to bring about positive behavior change and assist in a child’s long term development, especially for children with autism, and the program must be protected.”

     The amendment, offered by a bipartisan group of House members—Reps. John Larson, Smith, Walter Jones, Mike Doyle (Smith’s Autism Caucus co-chair) and Tom Rooney—was approved by a voice vote.

     ABA is an evidence-based behavior intervention. It is widely accepted among health care professionals as an effective treatment that improves a variety of skills by encouraging positive behaviors and discouraging negative behaviors—especially for children on the autism spectrum. On April 1, 2016, TRICARE implemented a reduction in reimbursement rates for therapists and technicians who help ensure that children in military families have this much needed support.

     In March 2016, Rep Smith lead a bipartisan effort urging the Department of Defense (DOD) to halt proposed reimbursement rate reductions . The effort was endorsed  by a coalition of autism and military families advocacy organizations, including: the National Military Family Association (NMFA), Military Special Needs Network, the TRICARE for Kids Stakeholders Coalition, and Autism Speaks.

     Smith has been a legislative leader on autism issues, pushing through new laws to help children with autism and their families. His most recent law, Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act of 2014—(Autism CARES Act/ Public Law 113-157), authorized $1.3 billion over five years for research into autism and urged federal agencies to examine and anticipate needs for autistic children who are “aging out” of current programs and need different assistance as adults.

     He also wrote legislation adopted in 2000, that created the first, national, comprehensive federal response to combat autism. The Autism Statistics, Surveillance, Research and Epidemiology (ASSURE) Act—which later became Title I of P.L. 106-310 —authorized grants and contracts for the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on autism and pervasive developmental disabilities, and established regional centers of excellence in autism surveillance and epidemiology. He is also the author of The Combating Autism Reauthorization Act (P.L 112-32) which was made law in 2011.

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