Ethical Advocacy: Considerations for Navigating Funding Source Challenges

TRICARE Update

Original Air Date: May 26, 2021

CEU offered: 1.0 Ethics CEU

Short Title: Ethical Advocacy: TRICARE update

Webinar Duration: 1 hour

CE Instructors:

  • Rebecca Womack, BCBA, LBA


Abstract: 

Recent changes to the TRICARE Operations Manual (TOM) will result in a significant impact on how applied behavior analysis (ABA) services are delivered to military families and their autistic children. While the modifications to the Autism Care Demonstration (ACD) program are scheduled to be introduced over the next several months, both parents and organizations are concerned about the effects these changes will have. Advocacy on behalf of families and providers has remained solution-oriented and focused on persevering the TRICARE benefit’s safeguarding measures in the TOM. The process of advocacy is derived from the items in the Behavior Analyst’s Professional and Ethical Compliance Code that speak to advocating for client rights, the behavior analyst’s obligation, and guidance for addressing challenges. This webinar will discuss how the Compliance Code can be an effective foundation for ethical advocacy with any funding source, current TRICARE related advocacy efforts, and recommendations for organizations experiencing difficulties with any payor.

By the end of the presentation attendees will be able to:

  • Identify how the Compliance Code applies to advocacy on behalf of the client
  • Identify approaches to ethically address common challenges that can occur in the payor/provider relationship

Instructor(s)

Rebecca Womack, MS, BCBA, LBA

Rebecca has been privileged to serve adults and children using applied behavior analysis (ABA) in settings such as facility-based care, group homes, day centers, clinics, and family homes both across the United States and overseas. In addition to her clinical experience, Rebecca is passionate about ABA service delivery aligning with generally accepted standards of care. With an expertise in applying health care documentation requirements and systems of compliance, she recently was the author of a chapter on documentation guidelines for ABA services. Rebecca is co-chair of the Documentation Special Interest Group (SIG) for the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP), a co-leader for the AI/ML Workgroup, an appointed Subject Matter Expert for the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, and a Member of the Board of Directors for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). Rebecca also has extensive experience with public policy work. Not only is she an experienced presenter at national conferences, she has also won national awards for her role as an advocate and work to support ABA organizations in delivering quality services. Rebecca formed RAW Consulting Solutions as a way to provide education and consultation services to ABA organizations, professionals, and providers of ABA services. Whatever the role, her ultimate goal is to make a significant impact through effective and efficient services utilizing the science of behavior analysis.