Two members of the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Interim Director Brian Boyd, PhD, and Senior Research Scientist Sam Odom, PhD, have been appointed to a 15-person committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), which will conduct an independent analysis of the Department of Defense’s Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration in accordance with Section 737 of Public Law 117-81.

According to the National Academies, the committee’s analysis will address nine areas, including:

1. an assessment of all methods used to assist in the assessment of domains related to autism spectrum disorder broadly, including a determination as to whether the Secretary is applying such methods appropriately under the demonstration project;
2. an assessment of the methods used under the demonstration project to measure the effectiveness of applied behavior analysis in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder;
3. a review of any guidelines or industry standards of care adhered to in the provision of applied behavior analysis services under the demonstration program, including parental involvement in applied behavior analysis treatment, as well as a review of the effects of such adherence with respect to dose-response or health outcomes for an individual who has received such services;
4. a review of health outcomes, including mental health outcomes, for individuals who have received applied behavior analysis treatments over time;
5. an analysis of the increased utilization of the demonstration program from inception by beneficiaries under the TRICARE program, to improve understanding of such utilization;
6. such other analyses to measure the cost effectiveness, program effectiveness, and clinical effectiveness of the demonstration program as may be determined appropriate by the National Academies;
7. an analysis on whether the incidence of autism is higher among the children of military families than in the general population;
8. an analysis on whether the diagnosis and treatment of autism is higher among the children of military families than in the general population; and
9. the development of a list of recommendations related to the measurement, effectiveness, and increased understanding of the demonstration program and its effect on beneficiaries under the TRICARE program.

The committee will create a report of its findings, which will be submitted to Congress and released to the public sometime in Summer 2025.

The Defense Health Agency within the Department of Defense is sponsoring this study; learn more by visiting this National Academies website.