[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 103 (Thursday, July 3, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       H.R. 4870, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 3, 2014

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise an 
issue for consideration as we move towards conference on this bill. 
When we considered the NDAA several weeks ago, an amendment that I 
submitted with Mr. Rooney of Florida was adopted by voice vote to 
ensure that TRICARE beneficiaries with developmental disabilities have 
access to behavioral health treatment, specifically a therapy known as 
applied behavior analysis, or ABA.
  The provision streamlines access to care by moving coverage of ABA 
under TRICARE Basic, removing caps on coverage, ensuring access to 
providers, and allowing all children with developmental disabilities 
access to these services.
  However, because of the obscure way that a small class of TRICARE 
beneficiaries' benefits are funded, additional appropriations language 
is needed to make sure these children get the care they deserve.
  I had planned to offer an amendment that would just clarify that 
retirees and their dependents of the Coast Guard, Commissioned Corps of 
NOAA, and Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service Corps can 
have these specific ABA treatments made available by the NDAA, funded 
out of the Defense Health Program.
  By doing this, we would fulfill the legislative intent captured in 
section 704 of the NDAA which ensures access to ABA in TRICARE and 
states that we intend to ensure appropriate and equitable access to 
such treatment for all TRICARE beneficiaries.
  While I will not offer the amendment at this time, I would appreciate 
the opportunity to work with Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member 
Visclosky as we go to conference to make sure that all TRICARE 
beneficiaries are able to access the care they need.