washingtonscene
Combat Pay
for families are in the works, as well as a business decision to intervene early ... [to
Counts
Web site titled “My e-Benefi ts.” help] these children become productive cit-
Committee chair Daniel Akaka (D- izens as opposed to institutionalizing them.”
a73 The IRS has ruled
servicemembers with
Hawaii) said obviously more needs to be Joy Dunlap, MOAA deputy director
nontaxable combat pay
done and added, “We need to adapt to for Military Family Issues, represented
are eligible for the eco- meet the needs of the newest veterans.” MOAA at the conference.
nomic stimulus rebate
MOAA agrees. While we applaud “This is a very important improvement
checks — but they must
the progress made by the VA and DoD, for the affected families,” she said, “and
file a 2007 tax return to
receive the rebate. More
MOAA thinks a permanent agency transi- Dr. Casscells and members of his staff de-
information can be found
tion offi ce is essential to true transfor- serve credit for its rapid implementation.
at
www.irs.gov.
mation and effective, joint cooperation But there’s still a great deal that needs to
between DoD and the VA. be done to ease fi nancial and administra-
tive challenges imposed on military fami-
New Tack
lies affected by autism and other disabling
children’s diseases.”
On Autism
While the demonstration would cre-
ate more access to ABA therapy for au-
Plan responds to pleas
tistic military children, parents will still
of affected families.
have to contend with TRICARE’s $2,500
monthly cap on expenses.
That limit often doesn’t cover even
A
ctive duty military parents the minimum amount of doctor-pre-
of autistic children received good scribed ABA therapy, and many parents
news in late February when as- still will have to pay thousands of dollars
sistant secretary of defense for Health out of pocket each month. MOAA thinks
Affairs Dr. S. Ward Casscells announced raising the $2,500 monthly cap on reim-
a new TRICARE demonstration program bursement should be a priority.
to help autistic children would begin no After the conference, DoD health care
later than March 15. offi cials further responded to additional
The announcement came during an input from parents of autistic children
autism conference at Camp Pendleton, and MOAA, agreeing to revise the new
Calif., hosted by Marine Corps Installa- plan to make it more provider- and
tions West (MCIW) and Naval Hospital family-friendly.
Camp Pendleton, and it drew applause Revisions announced the week of
from parents of children with autism March 21 include increased payment
who were in attendance. amounts and added locality rates for ABA-
The new program will recognize a trained supervisors who must monitor
special class of tutors as TRICARE pro- treatment by tutor-class therapists. Mili-
viders to implement applied behavior tary parents had argued providers would
analysis (ABA) treatment. Finding an not sign on to the program because of the
ABA-trained provider has been a chal- low initial payment rates and cumbersome
lenge for many military parents because report requirements.
provider numbers are limited, while the Defense leaders also removed a con-
number of children diagnosed with au- troversial requirement that children
tism has been growing. would have to achieve an IQ score of 35
“Obviously, it’s always about the kids,” to be eligible and allowed additional time
said Maj. Gen. Michael Lehnert, MCIW for caregivers and families to develop in-
commanding general. “But it’s also a good dividual care plans.
3 6 M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R M AY 2 0 0 8
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