MacDill Air Force Base is in South Tampa, in Hillsborough County. If you live near the base, in South Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Apollo Beach or elsewhere in the county, and your child is autistic and you use TRICARE, this guide pulls together what you need locally: which TRICARE plan rules apply in Tampa, the base offices to call, the free state and university resources in Hillsborough County, and how Hope Center's Temple Terrace location and home-based services fit in. Contacts were checked on October 20, 2026, from official directories; call ahead, since hours change.
Which TRICARE rules apply to MacDill families?
Florida is in the TRICARE East Region, so ABA referrals and authorizations go through Humana Military (800-444-5445; ABA line 866-323-7155). ABA is covered through the Autism Care Demonstration (ACD) for children of active duty, retired and certain Guard and Reserve sponsors, with a referral, pre-authorization, six-month authorizations and required outcome measures. Active duty families must also enroll in EFMP and register in ECHO.
The Tampa Prime Demo: check before you switch
Tampa is one of two areas (with Atlanta) where TRICARE offers the TRICARE Prime Demo through CareSource Military & Veterans. Enrollees get care only through the CareSource network and cannot use the Humana Military network. Tricare.mil says beneficiaries who "get services through the Extended Care Health Option, the Autism Care Demonstration, or the Wounded Warrior Program" are not eligible. So if your child uses ABA under the ACD, the Prime Demo is not an option for that child, and if your family is already in the Prime Demo and your child is newly diagnosed, call CareSource (833-230-2080) and Humana Military right away to sort out the plan change.
The full process is in our TRICARE ABA referral checklist.
Who do you call on base?
These contacts are from the Department of Defense MilitaryINSTALLATIONS directory for MacDill AFB, viewed October 20, 2026.
| Office | What it helps with | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Military and Family Readiness Center, EFMP Family Support | EFMP family support, local referrals, family services plans, warm handoffs when you move | 8105 Condor Street, Bldg. 18; 813-828-0122; listed hours Mon to Wed 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thu 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| School Liaison | School choice, transfers, special education referrals, IEP questions | 8105 Condor Street, Bldg. 18; 813-828-0146 |
| Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator, TRICARE Service Center | TRICARE benefit questions and problems | 3250 Zemke Avenue; 813-827-9900, option 3; listed hours Mon to Fri 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Military OneSource special needs consultants | Free, confidential consultations, any branch | 800-342-9647 |
EFMP enrollment paperwork starts with the EFMP office at your military hospital or clinic, not with Family Support. If you are not sure where that is for your family, the Family Support office or the beneficiary counselor can point you there. See EFMP in Florida.
Which free Hillsborough County resources should you know?
- CARD-USF (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida), 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MHC 2113A, Tampa, FL 33612; 813-974-2532. CARD-USF is funded by the Florida Department of Education and says its services are free. CARD offers family support, training and consultation; it is not an ABA therapy provider.
- Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), Suncoast Region, Tampa office: 1313 North Tampa Street, Suite 515, Tampa, FL 33602; (800) 615-8720. APD runs Florida's developmental disability services, and autism is an eligible condition.
- Hillsborough County Public Schools handles ESE evaluations and IEPs. Our Hillsborough County autism resources guide lists Early Steps, FDLRS Child Find, district and emergency contacts.
- Special needs shelters. Hurricane season matters on the bay. See Hillsborough special needs shelter registration.
Where can your child get ABA near MacDill?
TRICARE allows ABA at home, in a clinic or office, at daycare when clinically necessary, in some community settings and, in a narrow way, at school (see TRICARE ABA at school). For MacDill families, that means two practical routes with Hope Center:
- Center-based ABA in Temple Terrace. Our location is at 9385 N 56th St, Suite 211, Temple Terrace, FL 33617, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. See Temple Terrace and New Tampa autism resources.
- Home, daycare and community ABA across Hillsborough County. Apollo Beach and Plant City are among our listed service areas (see Apollo Beach autism resources). For South Tampa, Brandon, Riverview and other neighborhoods, call to ask whether we can staff your area.
Center or home: how MacDill families often decide
| Question | Points toward center | Points toward home |
|---|---|---|
| Where are the hardest moments? | Group settings, peers, waiting, transitions | Bedtime, meals, siblings, getting out the door |
| Commute | Workable with your duty hours | Long drive across the bay at rush hour |
| Parent training | Sessions at the center | Coaching in your own home routines |
| Deployment or shift work | Stable daytime structure | Flexible scheduling around caregivers |
Many families use a mix. TRICARE needs every setting listed in the treatment plan it authorizes.
Your MacDill checklist
- Confirm your child's TRICARE plan, and that you are not enrolled in the Prime Demo if your child will use the ACD.
- Get the diagnosis with a DSM-5 checklist and validated test scores from a TRICARE-approved provider.
- Active duty: start EFMP at your military hospital or clinic, and ECHO registration with Humana Military, within the 90-day window.
- Have the diagnosing provider send the ABA referral to Humana Military.
- Pick an ABA provider and complete the four baseline outcome measures.
- Call the MacDill School Liaison about the IEP and school placement.
- Contact CARD-USF for free family support and training.
- If you are arriving on orders, follow our PCS to Florida checklist.
How Hope Center supports MacDill families
Hope Center for Behavior Change accepts TRICARE East (Humana Military) and has no waitlist. Programs are written by BCBAs, delivered by RBTs and reviewed by our clinical director before they go to TRICARE. Parents get training every week, and our staff can join IEP meetings, doctor visits, haircuts and dental visits where allowed. We work in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Bengali and Russian.
Services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after TRICARE approves the treatment plan. See our Tampa ABA page and TRICARE ABA page, then request a free consultation and benefits check or call 561-337-8865.