New Process for Submitting ABA Group Rosters/Documentation to HNFS

Friday, June 4, 2021

In late March, TRICARE announced sweeping changes to its Autism Care Demonstration (ACD), which provides applied behavior analysis (ABA) benefits to TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Due to the extensive changes, TRICARE is implementing the revised ACD in phases, with all updates to be in place by Jan. 1, 2022. Visit www.health.mil/autism and www.tricare-west.com/go/acd-provider for more information.

In support of new requirements for basic life support and background check documentation, Health Net Federal Services, LLC (HNFS) is implementing a new process for ABA group roster submissions effective July 1. We offer the following information to inform and clarify the changes, and assist ABA groups in seamlessly transitioning to the new process. 

New email box
Effective July 1, ABA groups will use HNFS’ new dedicated ABA mailbox, HNFS_ABARosters@hnfs.com, to submit new and updated rosters. ABA groups must submit an updated roster anytime a provider is added or terminated from the group, or when there is a change to demographics or credentialing information. We also ask you use this mailbox to submit all supporting documentation for behavior technicians (BTs). 

Supporting documentation
As of July 1, roster submissions must include the following supporting documentation for any newly added BT* listed:

• CPR – Basic Life Support (BLS) certification: Submit CPR-BLS certifications with roster submissions during the certification process for new BTs. 
• Criminal History Background Check (CHBC): Submit CHBCs with roster submissions during the certification process for new BTs. TRICARE requires the CHBC include current federal, state and county criminal and sex offender reports for all locations worked or resided in over the past 10 years. 

Important: ABA groups adding new BTs on or after July 1 must submit copies of the CPR-BLS certification and CHBC with their roster. In order for us to meet the 10-day BT certification requirement, we will be unable to accept or process rosters submitted without all required supporting documentation. We offer detailed instructions on how to complete our Group Roster Template.

*Existing BTs: HNFS will collect copies of CPR-BLS certifications and CHBCs during the recertification process.

All other providers: The in-place documentation submission process for credentialing remains the same. Our credentialing notices to you will detail any documentation due and how to submit to us. As of July 1, ABA supervisors and assistant behavior analysts will be required to submit copies of current CPR/BLS and criminal history background checks during the credentialing and recredentialing process. Please do not use the above-referenced email box to return these.