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.

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

The EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program that assists active-duty military Families who have a Family member that has been identified as having special medical and/or educational needs. The special needs are documented through enrollment in the EFMP utilizing DD Form 2792 (Family Member Medical Summary). The EFMP works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated community support, housing, educational, medical and personnel services.

An Exceptional Family Member (EFM) is a Family member (child or adult) with any physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disorder that requires special treatment, therapy, education, training, or counseling.

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is now automated! The new system is the Enterprise-Exceptional Family Member Program (E-EFMP) https://efmp.army.mil/EnterpriseEfmp/.

E-EFMP is CAC as well as DS Logon accessible. Each Service member and Family member of age of majority will have their own account. Children under the age of majority will fall under the sponsor. The enrollment and family travel screening process has been fully automated. Now you can enroll completely online.

Also this site https://efmp.army.mil/EnterpriseEfmp/ is a centralized location for information for EFMs and their Families.

Who must enroll in the EFMP?

IAW AR 608-75 Sections 1-7. Identification and enrollment

a. Enrollment in EFMP for Service members with EFMs (children and adults) is as follows:

(1) Active Army Service members will enroll in EFMP.

(2) U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Service members in the Active Guard-Reserve (AGR) Program will enroll in EFMP.

(3) Army National Guard (ARNG) Service members in the Active Guard-Reserve (AGR) Program will enroll in EFMP.

(4) ARNG and USAR Service members not serving in AGR status may voluntarily enroll in the EFMP before entering an eligible duty status to gain access to EFMP immediately upon entering a status that is eligible to receive EFMP services (for example, community support services such as EFM information, referral, and placement; advocacy; family-find activities; and respite care) The Service member's eligible Family members must meet the special needs medical eligibility criteria in AR 608-75, appendix B, when the Service member is in an eligible duty status.

The EFMP’s goal is to assist in mission readiness by providing comprehensive care and services to Army Families with special needs dependents.

The Service member contacts the nearest Army medical treatment facility EFMP point of contact to begin the assessment process and obtain the enrollment forms. Once the forms are completed, they are forwarded to the appropriate regional medical command for coding. The regional medical command enrolls eligible Active Army Service members in EFMP. They notify Army National Guard and Reserve personnel agencies of eligible AGR Service members for enrollment in the program.

Enrollment allows assignment managers at Army personnel agencies to consider the documented medical and special education needs of EFMs in the assignment process. When possible, Service members are assigned to an area where the medical and special education needs of their EFM can be met. This will depend on a valid personnel requirement for the Service member’s grade, specialty and eligibility for the tour.  All Service members are still eligible for worldwide assignments.

Enrollment in EFMP does not adversely affect selection for promotion, schools, or assignment. Information concerning enrollment in EFMP or any of the data used in the program is not made available to selection boards.

Screening -- All family members processing to Puerto Rico must undergo a medical screening. Medical staff at your local medical center should complete DA Forms 5888 - Family Member Deployment Screening Questionnaire and DA Form 7246 - EFM Screening Questionnaire. Identified Family members will initiate enrollment using the new E-EFMP. The enrollment and family travel screening process has been fully automated. Now you can enroll completely online.

TRICARE -- To make sure your Family is covered under TRICARE in Puerto Rico, you must transfer your enrollment upon arrival to Fort Buchanan with the TRICARE office located at the Welcome Center Building 152, Patriot Boulevard.

Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS) 787 707-2167, provides services to children 0 to 3 years old. Our local DDESS school, Antilles Consolidated School System provides a full range of special education services for school age children.

The Army Community Service/EFMP will provide community support services such as information and referral, relocation assistance, family Advocacy, information on support groups, respite care, and local community support services.

Contact the EFMP Coordinator at 787 707- 3295 for additional information.

The EFMP suggests that transferring soldiers with school-age EFMs hand-carry the following when they PCS:

• A copy of the child's Individual Education Plan (IEP)
• A summary of educational activities and performance for the current or past school year
• Medical and diagnostic records maintained by the previous school
• School progress reports/report cards
• Homework and class work sample
• Any medical records