If your family has TRICARE and your child has been diagnosed with autism, ABA therapy may be covered through the TRICARE Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration.
Yes, military insurance can come with a few extra steps. But don’t worry. That’s where we come in. At Best Buds ABA, we help military families across Nevada understand their benefits and start in-home ABA therapy without navigating the process alone.
Because everyone needs a Best Bud.
The short answer: yes.
TRICARE covers ABA therapy for qualifying beneficiaries diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder through the Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration, often called the ACD.
To receive coverage, your child must be enrolled in an eligible TRICARE health plan, have a qualifying autism diagnosis, and receive a referral and pre-authorization before services begin. ABA therapy must also be considered clinically necessary and appropriate for your child. Every family’s coverage and costs can be a little different.
The good news?
You don’t have to sort through it alone. Our team can review your TRICARE benefits and explain what you need in plain English without all the confusing insurance language.
Children and other qualifying family members of active-duty service members, retirees, and certain National Guard and Reserve members may be eligible for ABA coverage through TRICARE. A few important requirements must be in place:
Your child must have a formal Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis from a TRICARE-approved diagnosing provider.
The recommended ABA services must be clinically necessary and appropriate for your child’s individual needs.
Your child must be enrolled in a qualifying TRICARE health plan.
Every TRICARE plan requires a referral to the Autism Care Demonstration and pre-authorization before ABA services can begin.
If your child’s sponsor is an active-duty service member, your child must also be enrolled in the sponsor’s branch-specific Exceptional Family Member Program, or EFMP, and registered in the Extended Care Health Option, known as ECHO.
If that feels like a lot to remember, don’t worry.
At Best Buds ABA, we help Nevada families understand what comes next so that important steps don’t get overlooked.
TRICARE may authorize several ABA services designed to address the core symptoms of autism and help your child build meaningful everyday skills.
The goal is simple: help your child grow in the areas that matter most to them and your family.
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst evaluates your child’s strengths, needs, behaviors, and current skills.
Your child receives an individualized ABA treatment plan with focused, measurable goals.
Direct therapy may help your child develop communication, social, play, self-help, and daily living skills while reducing challenging behaviors.
A BCBA supervises your child’s therapy, monitors progress, and updates the treatment plan when needed.
Parents and caregivers learn practical ABA strategies they can use during everyday routines at home.
TRICARE requires treatment updates and standardized outcome measures at scheduled intervals to monitor progress and determine whether services should continue.
Starting ABA therapy through TRICARE includes a few specific requirements, but you don’t have to manage them alone. We help guide you through the process and handle as much of the insurance coordination as possible.
Reach out and share some basic information so we can begin reviewing your TRICARE coverage and eligibility.
Our team reviews your TRICARE benefits and confirms the steps required through the Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration. Before the assessment, your child will need a referral from an approved diagnosing provider and authorization from TRICARE.
Once the initial assessment is authorized, a BCBA evaluates your child’s strengths, needs, and goals. You and the clinical team will also complete TRICARE’s required baseline outcome measures.
After the assessment, we develop a personalized treatment plan and submit it to TRICARE West with the required clinical documentation.
TRICARE reviews the treatment plan and determines the authorized services. Once approval is received, we’ll explain what was authorized and prepare to begin therapy.
Your child begins therapy in the familiar surroundings of home, as long as home-based services are included in the authorization.
Your provider will submit updated documentation and request continued authorization approximately every six months. A new referral from an approved diagnosing provider is generally required every two years. TRICARE explains the current ACD process here.
Your out-of-pocket costs depend on several factors, including the sponsor’s military status, your TRICARE plan, your beneficiary category, and whether the provider is authorized by TRICARE.
Some families may have little or no out-of-pocket cost, while others may be responsible for applicable deductibles, copayments, or cost-shares.
Our team will review your benefits before therapy begins so you have a clearer understanding of what to expect.
No surprises. No confusing fine print.
Military families already manage enough. Starting ABA therapy shouldn’t become one more overwhelming assignment.
Families choose Best Buds ABA because we help make the process feel simpler.
We help with:
But most importantly, we support families. Whether your family is near Nellis Air Force Base, Creech Air Force Base, or elsewhere in Nevada, we’re here to help your child make meaningful progress at home.
Your child’s success is our success. And every milestone deserves to be celebrated. That’s just how we do things here.
Still wondering what TRICARE will cover? That’s completely okay. Military healthcare can feel especially confusing when referrals, authorizations, and additional programs are involved.
The good news is you don’t have to figure it out alone. At Best Buds ABA, we’ll review your benefits, explain the process, and help your Nevada family take the next step toward starting therapy.
Because everyone deserves support. And every family deserves a Best Bud.
Amy Naffa, MA, BCBA, LBA, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst in Nevada who is passionate about helping children and families achieve meaningful, lasting progress through evidence-based ABA services.
With years of experience supporting individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, Amy has worked across home, school, and clinical settings. She is dedicated to building strong relationships with families, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and creating individualized programs that help each child reach their unique potential.
Amy earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Fresno Pacific University and her Master’s Degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University. Her clinical approach emphasizes compassionate care, family partnership, and data-driven decision-making to promote meaningful and lasting outcomes.
Outside of work, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, their three doodles, and their orange cat. She loves traveling, shopping, attending church, and making memories with family and friends.
Melissa Zuniga is a bilingual Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) licensed in Nevada and Utah with experience in both education and behavioral health since 2006. Over the years, she had the opportunity to work in many different roles including direct therapist, teacher, RBT, behavior consultant, and BCBA, which has helped her develop a well-rounded and compassionate approach when supporting children and families. Melissa’s specialty is in early childhood intervention, with a focus on building communication, social, behavioral, and adaptive skills through individualized and developmentally appropriate support.
She is passionate about helping clients build communication, independence, emotional regulation, social, and daily living skills across home, school, clinic, and community settings.
Melissa especially values working closely with families and creating individualized, culturally responsive care that feels supportive, practical, and meaningful for each child’s unique needs.
Patrick is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked in clinical applied behavior analysis for over eight years. He completed his Masters and Certificate of Advanced Study in school psychology at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, practicing for two years before getting his BCBA credential in 2017 through the University of Colorado at Denver. Patrick has worked with children with disabilities since 2011, and has specialized in social skills training, school-based collaboration, and serving individuals impacted by severe behavior. He is particularly proud of his membership in COABA and his work in the Public Policy Committee, specifically the Medical Necessity in Schools Action Committee. Outside of work, you can find him attending concerts, doing laps in a pool, or reading.
Candi is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) dedicated to supporting children and families through compassionate, evidence-based care. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology, where she gained experience supporting young women impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. Candi initially entered the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) while pursuing a different career path. However, through her work with children and families, she discovered a strong passion for creating meaningful, lasting change through behavioral support. This led her to further her education and earn a Master of Science in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis.
Since 2017, Candi has worked with individuals ages 2 through 21 with autism and related developmental needs, including ADHD, ODD, OCD, Down syndrome, Anxiety, Epilepsy, and other behavioral and developmental differences in Nevada. She has provided services across telehealth (in Colorado and Maryland), home, clinic, school, and community-based settings, allowing her to support families in a wide range of environments. Candi is passionate about helping individuals develop functional, meaningful skills that increase independence and improve quality of life. Her clinical approach focuses on identifying the underlying function of behavior and implementing individualized, data-driven interventions designed to support long-term success.
She is known for balancing empathy with structure, ensuring that care is both compassionate and effective. Candi prioritizes collaboration with caregivers and interdisciplinary teams to promote consistency across environments and meaningful progress over time. She is deeply committed to parent training and caregiver support, equipping families with practical strategies they can confidently implement in their daily lives. As a BCBA, Candi integrates principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into her clinical approach, supporting individuals and caregivers in building psychological flexibility, strengthening values-based decision making, and developing adaptive coping strategies. She strives to create a supportive and respectful therapeutic environment for everyone involved, including clients, families, behavior technicians, and colleagues. She approaches her work with cultural sensitivity, professionalism, and a genuine respect for the unique experiences of each individual she serves. Her goal is to provide high-quality care that leads to meaningful, sustainable outcomes for every individual and family.
Brittany Archuleta began her journey in ABA over six years ago as an RBT, working directly with children and seeing firsthand the incredible impact individualized support can have on their lives. As she grew in her career, Brittany discovered a passion not only for helping children succeed but also for supporting the teams and systems that make that care possible. Today, in her leadership and operations role, she is dedicated to building strong, compassionate teams and creating an environment where every child and family feels supported, empowered, and celebrated. Brittany believes that meaningful connections, thoughtful guidance, and a commitment to growth are at the heart of truly transformative ABA care.
Jairin is a passionate advocate for individuals and families in the autism community, bringing a unique blend of medical knowledge, behavioral expertise, and cultural understanding to her work. She earned her Doctorate in Medicine and a bachelor’s degree in psychology in the Philippines and later became certified by the Educational Commission of Foreign Medical Graduates in the U.S..
Her journey shifted when a family member was diagnosed with autism, inspiring her to dedicate her life to supporting individuals and families through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
Jairin studied ABA at the Florida Institute of Technology and became a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst in 2015, building a strong foundation for her evidence-based practice. For over a decade, she has helped individuals with developmental or behavioral challenges, collaborating with parents, caregivers, and behavior technicians to foster supportive environments where every individual can reach their fullest potential. She also guides a team of BCBAs and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), helping them provide compassionate, high-quality care. Deeply committed to community service, Jairin volunteers at autism awareness events, family resource programs, and outreach initiatives, always approaching her work with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and profound respect for the diverse families she serves.
Today, as a Licensed Behavior Analyst in Nevada and a doctoral candidate in behavioral health, Jairin focuses on delivering ABA interventions that blend her clinical expertise with ongoing research to help individuals thrive. Her mission is to provide care that is compassionate, evidence-based, and partner closely with families, and guide her team to ensure every individual receives the support they need to reach their fullest potential.
