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 EEO Corporate Office, Operations Division (DO-S) is located at the McNamara Headquarters Complex on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and provides services to headquarters personnel. The McNamara Complex is a state-of-the-art building, fully accessible to people with disabilities. The facility provides assigned handicap parking approved by the security office.

The EEO office provides the following services to its employees with disabilities:

• Sign Language Interpreter services.
• Specialized equipment needed by employees to perform their assigned duties.
• Assistance in preparation of requests for reasonable accommodation from employees and their supervisors.
• Participation in the Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities designed to hire students in temporary positions and, when the opportunity exists, to hire them on a permanent basis.
• A website to provide information to people seeking disability services within the Washington Metropolitan Area. 

For additional information contact the DLA McNamara HQC EEO coordinator at 571-767-6777.

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a Department of the Army program, which assists family members with special needs.  An exceptional family member is any family member who has an illness or a disability that limits daily functions and requires ongoing educational or health related services. 

DLA McNamara HQC does not have an Exceptional Family Member program; however, there is an EFMP program located on Fort Belvoir. The EFMP office at Army Community Service (ACS) can assist with information on resources available, support programs offered, and a large lending library. ACS EFMP offers support groups, family arts and crafts and respite care.

If you need to enroll your spouse or child for the first time, see your Primary Care Provider to have paperwork completed for an EFMP initial enrollment, update, or disenrollment. Once the Primary Care Provider has completed paperwork it can be submitted to the EFMP coordinator. EFMP information updates are required every 3 years. If you need to be screened for an overseas assignment, contact the EFMP office at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital (FBCH), 9300 DeWitt Loop, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 or call 703-805-0663571-231-3224

Personnel assigned to Fort Belvoir with a family member registered in the program, can stop by the EFMP office located at ACS, 9800 Belvoir Rd., Building #200, to see what programs are available. The Fort Belvoir EFMP can connect you to various resources to assist your child/spouse, such as information on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Child Find screening services, etc. Enrollment is open to active Army, U.S. Army Reserve soldiers in the USAR-Active Guard Reserve (AGR), or other USAR soldiers on active duty exceeding 30 days. Army National Guard (AGR) personnel serving under authority of title 10, U.S. Code are also eligible. If you need to enroll your spouse or child for the first time, need EFMP information updated, or need to be screened for an overseas assignment, contact the EFMP office at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, 9300 DeWitt Loop, Fort Belvoir, VA or call  703-805-0663