Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

Enrollment in EFMP ensures that family members' documented medical and educational needs receive consideration during the assignment coordination process. Through the EFMP Family Support office, families can receive assistance with navigating military and community systems of support.

Extended Care Health Option (ECHO)

ECHO supplements the basic TRICARE program by providing financial assistance for an integrated set of services and supplies. For those who qualify, ECHO provides benefits not available through the basic TRICARE program. Qualified beneficiaries must enroll in the EFMP through the sponsor's branch of service, ensure the qualifying family member's disability is properly entered in DEERS and register for ECHO with a case manager.

Autism Care Demonstration (ACD)

TRICARE's ACD program covers Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for all TRICARE beneficiaries diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). To receive care through ACD, all eligible beneficiaries must: 

• Enroll in their service’s EFMP and be registered with ECHO
• Receive ASD diagnosis from an approved diagnosing provider
• Get a referral and authorization to the ACD program

The South Texas Research Organizational Network Guiding Studies on Trauma And Resilience (STRONG STAR) is a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research partnership funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the VA.

Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD

Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE) is an evidence-based behavioral health treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). People with PTSD have difficulty processing traumatic memories and avoid thoughts, feelings and situations about the distressing event, leading to limitation of daily activities. PE helps them face the trauma and process their thoughts about it. Treatment ranges from eight to 15 weekly sessions with a therapist (along with in-between sessions) to face situations, reminders and emotions about the trauma. Through PE and safe exposure to trauma-related content, patients learn that traumatic memories and reminders are not dangerous. As a result, PTSD symptoms remit and patients can expand their lives.

Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a personalized, 12-session treatment for patients with PTSD. A traumatic event can cause people with PTSD to think they are to blame and start to think the world is unsafe. These thoughts keep patients with PTSD “stuck”, causing them to miss activities, people and places they used to enjoy. CPT therapists work with patients to recognize and challenge traumatic thoughts to get patients “unstuck”. During the later sessions, themes of safety, trust, power and control, esteem and intimacy are explored as areas possibly affected by the trauma. CPT can be implemented in individual treatment, group treatment or individual and group treatment.

Standardized measures

As outlined in the TRICARE Policy Manual, Chapter 7, Section 3.11 – the following standardized measures are required at treatment baseline, at 60-120 day intervals, and at discharge across all behavioral health settings (outpatient, inpatient, partial hospitalization, Residential Treatment Centers (RTC) and Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Facilities (SUDRF), for the corresponding diagnoses:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - PCL-5

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)

Major Depression Disorder (MDD) patient questionnaire (PHQ-9)