Health Care/Special Needs

Whether this is your first move, or you’re a seasoned professional, moving can be a challenge. A little planning and preparation can help make your move as easy as possible. Try the following Defense Department resources to help you get organized:

• PCS & Military Moves on Military OneSource.mil provides comprehensive moving resources, information and services all in one simple location
• Plan My Move, an online tool that helps break down the moving process into clear, customizable steps, with checklists to help keep you organized and on track
• EFMP & Me, an online tool to help you plan for transition and continuity of support services for your family member(s) with special needs

Make sure your transition is as smooth as possible by visiting Moving on the TRICARE website. Talk to your medical case manager before you move. They can help you find a new doctor and other resources to avoid any interruptions in coverage.

On arrival at your new duty location, you or your sponsor can contact the Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator at the military treatment facility. They can help if you have questions or need assistance with authorizations for TRICARE Extended Care Health Option, or ECHO, services.

All TRICARE regional offices and most military treatment facilities are staffed with beneficiary counseling and assistance coordinators who educate beneficiaries and help with TRICARE-related eligibility, enrollment, referrals/authorizations and claims processing questions. If you or your family has more complex needs, contact your TRICARE case manager.

TRICARE debt collection assistance officers are assigned to regional offices and military treatment facilities worldwide. DCAOs assist with confirmed debt collection due to unpaid TRICARE claims. Please note, the debt must be in collections or listed on your credit report.

Medicaid provides health coverage for eligible individuals and families with low incomes or with special needs. The department of social services or the department of medical assistance may administer the Medicaid program in your state. Supplemental Security Income is a cash assistance program intended to assist adults and children with special needs who have limited resources. Families must reapply after moving to a new state.

Medicaid waivers are state-specific Medicaid programs that provide funding for long-term care services to be provided in the community instead of in nursing homes or hospitals. There may be waitlists for waivers, however many states have agreed to the policy of allowing active-duty military families to enroll in their state of legal residence to get on the wait list.

Learn more about Benefits for Families With Special Needs, or review the Government Assistance Programs course on MilLife Learning.

The TRICARE Extended Care Health Option provides supplemental services to:

• Family members of active-duty service personnel (this includes activated National Guard and reserve service personnel)
• Family members who are covered under the Transitional Assistance Management Program
• Children or spouses of former service members who are victims of abuse and qualify for the Transitional Compensation Program
• Family members of deceased active-duty sponsors while they are considered transitional survivors.

The qualifying family member’s disability must be entered properly in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System to have access to TRICARE ECHO services.

For qualifying medical and/or educational special needs, TRICARE ECHO offers integrated services and supplies beyond those offered by your TRICARE program option (such as TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select). See this TRICARE ECHO factsheet for more information, or listen to this TRICARE ECHO webinar on Military OneSource.

Military hospitals and clinics are found at military bases and posts around the world. They are also referred to as military treatment facilities. Before you move, find out your new military treatment facility and contact them for local information.

Medical case management involves a team of health care professionals who help you and your family find solutions to complex health problems. It is important to let your medical case manager know if you are moving. They can help you connect with a medical case manager at your new location. Learn more about TRICARE case management services.

If your family member has special transportation needs for the move, such as oxygen or a special bed or wheelchair, contact your TRICARE medical case manager. They can advise you on equipment and transportation.

You can also contact your current installation’s household goods/transportation office (outbound) for information on special procedures for transporting medical equipment.

The Navy's Exceptional Family Member Program is designed to assist sailors by addressing the special needs of their exceptional family members during the assignment process. Special needs include any special medical, dental, mental health, developmental or educational requirement, wheelchair accessibility, adaptive equipment or assistive technology devices and services.

EFMP/special needs guidance is contained in:

• DOD Instruction 1315.19, 20 Dec 05, Authorizing Special Needs Family Members Travel Overseas at Government Expense 
• SECNAV Instruction 1754.5B, 14 Dec 05, Exceptional Family Member Program 
• OPNAV Instruction 1754.2B, 16 Jun 03, Exceptional Family Member Program 
• BUMEDINST 1300.2A, 23 Jun 06, Suitability Screening, Medical Assignment Screening and Exceptional Family Member Program Identification and Enrollment

The primary goal of the EFMP is to ensure the special needs of EFM can be met at a new assignment location. EFMP enrollment information enables Navy detailers to proactively consider a family member's special need requirements during the assignment process and to pinpoint the assignment to a location with appropriate resources that address the special needs. Successful implementation requires up-to-date enrollment information and extensive coordination among the personnel, medical, and educational communities.

EFMP enrollment is mandatory and required immediately upon identification of a special need. Command points of contact and Navy military treatment facility EFMP coordinators can assist service and family members with the enrollment process. DD Form 2792 (9-03), Exceptional Family Member Medical Summary and DD Form 2792-1 (9-03), Exceptional Family Member Special Education/Early Intervention Summary, are used for enrollment. DOD civilian employees and their family members do not enroll in the EFMP.

There is a reluctance to enroll because of misconceptions that EFMP enrollment may limit assignments and career advancement, or preclude family members from accompanying sponsors on overseas tours. These negative perceptions are not supported by fact. Sailors enrolled in the EFMP have always received equal consideration for accompanied assignments and for promotions.

There are six EFMP enrollment categories which include:

• Category I - for monitoring purposes only 
• Category II - pinpoint to specific geographic locations 
• Category III - some CONUS and OCONUS assignments maybe limited based on diagnosis requirements. 
• Category IV - normally, no overseas assignment.  CONUS assignments only and must be near major medical areas, including Hawaii and Alaska.
• Category V - homesteading 
• Category VI - temporary enrollment - update required in 6-12 months

NAVPERSCOM is responsible for:

• Prescribing EFMP enrollment and disenrollment procedures. 
• Coordinating detailing procedures including those for severely disabled EFM. 
• Prescribing procedures for expeditious screening and forwarding of EFM forms from the sponsor or MTF via the Central Screening Committee to the EFMP Manager. 
• Establishing and maintaining a database of enrolled service members with EFM. 
• Establishing and maintaining a current EFM resource database which includes medical, educational, and support agencies, facilities, and services in key fleet concentration areas. 
• Developing and periodically conducting training and information campaigns. 
• Providing relocation assistance.

The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Washington, DC also has EFMP responsibilities. BUMED (M322) EFMP contact info is: 202-762-3451 or DSN 312-762-3451. BUMED & Navy MTFs are responsible for:

Developing policy for healthcare providers and patient administrators to identify and enroll eligible family members in the EFMP. 

• Maintaining Central Screening Committees comprised of healthcare providers who review completed EFMP applications and recommend disposition to NAVPERSCOM. 
• Identifying an EFMP coordinator at each Navy MTF who will assist staff and service members with the application process and provide necessary enrollment forms. 
• Providing training, as necessary, to all area commands on the EFMP. 
• At an overseas MTF, coordinating early intervention, special education and related services with the cognizant Department of Defense Dependents School special education coordinator and/or military service with responsibility for Educational and Developmental Intervention Services.

Each military component has developed its own program that addresses special needs and assignment coordination.

For additional information contact:

• Marine Corps, HQ, USMC, Quantico, VA, Telephone: 703-784-9654/0298.
• Army, Army MEDCOM, San Antonio, TX, Telephone: 210-221-8926/6476.
• Air Force, AFSMA/SGOF, Falls Church, VA, Telephone: 703-681-6320.
• Coast Guard, HQ, USCG, Washington, DC, Telephone: 202-267-6731.

Additional information can be found in the following publications (available at each command, Fleet and Family Support Center, or Navy MTF) or websites:

• Exceptional Family Member Program Resource Guide (NAVPERS 15614F) 
• Children With Special Needs - A Navy Parent Handbook 
• The Navy Exceptional Family Member Program (VCR or DVD - NAVPERS 806683) 
• Navy EFMP 
• USMC EFMP
• Military Homefront  
• Military OneSource
• DOD Special Needs website

EFMP forms:

• Medical Summary ( ALL dependants) - DD2792
• Education Summary (for all school age children ages 3+)-DD2792-1

EFMP Enrollment Process

Special needs are:

• Identified during routine healthcare (MTF or TRICARE Health Provider) 
• Self-identified (Service or Family Member) 
• Identified during Suitability Screening (Suitability Screening Coordinator)

Special needs include any special medical, dental, mental health, developmental or educational requirement, wheelchair accessibility, adaptive equipment or assistive technology devices and services.

Step 1: Refer the service and family member to the MTF EFMP Coordinator who assists with completing DD Form 2792, Nov 06, Exceptional Family Member Medical Summary or DD Form 2792-1, Nov 06, Exceptional Family Member Special Education/Early Intervention Summary. For school age children, both the Medical and Special Education summaries must be completed and signed by appropriate medical and educational officials.

Step 2: The MTF EFMP Coordinator forwards completed enrollment forms to the appropriate regional Central Screening Committee, which includes NMC Portsmouth, NMC San Diego and USNH Yokosuka.

Step 3: The CSC reviews the enrollment forms, recommends a category code, and forwards the forms to the Navy EFMP (PERS-451) in Millington, TN or to the USMC EFMP in Quantico, VA.

Step 4: PERS-451 confirms the category code and enters the enrollment data into an EFMP database.

Personnel assignment managers (detailers) use the EFMP enrollment data to pinpoint assignments to locations with appropriate resources that can address the special needs.

For more specific information on Yokosuka's EFM Program contact the EFMP Coordinator at Naval Hospital Yokosuka DSN 315-243-3262, internationally at 011-81-46-816-3262 or online or EFMP Case Liaison DSN 315-243-9605, internationally at 011-81-46-816-9605.