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 Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory enrollment program that works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated medical, educational, housing, community support, and personnel services to families with special needs.

An exceptional family member is a child or adult with any physical, emotional, developmental, intellectual disability that requires special treatment, therapy, education, training or counseling.

The following soldiers with exceptional family members must enroll in the program:

• Active Army
• U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) soldiers in the USAR-Active Guard (AGR) program and other USAR soldiers on active duty exceeding 30 days
• Army National Guard (AGR) personnel serving under authority of Titles 10 and 32, United States Code.

Department of the Army civilian employees do not enroll in the program, but must identify family members who require special education and medically related service needs to their current and gaining civilian personnel offices each time they process for an assignment to a location outside the United States where family member travel is authorized at Government expense.

Enrollment

To initiate enrollment, the soldier contacts the nearest medical treatment facility EFMP point of contact to begin the assessment process and obtain either the medical and/or educational forms. Once the forms are completed, they are forwarded to the appropriate regional medical center for coding and then to the Army personnel agencies who enroll the soldier in the program. EFMP enrollment does not adversely affect selection for promotion, schools or assignment. Information concerning EFMP enrollment or any of the data used in the program is not made available to selection boards.

Enrollment allows assignment managers at Army personnel agencies to consider the documented medical and special educational needs of exceptional family members in the assignment process. When possible, soldiers are assigned to areas where medical and special educational needs of their exceptional family member(s) can be met. This assignment will depend on a valid personnel requirement for the soldier's grade, specialty and eligibility for the tour. All soldiers are eligible for worldwide assignments.

Special Education -- Special education needs are only considered in assignments outside the United States. Assignments within our 50 States and Trust Territories are not based on the educational needs of children, due to the fact that every local school system must obey public laws regarding the provision of special education.

The Fort Myer Andrew Rader Army Health Clinic provides limited services to family members. However, there are a number of multi-service military and civilian medical facilities, offering adult and pediatric services, are available within the Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. area. For further information regarding routine and specialty services available, contact the Andrew Rader US Army Health Clinic Business Operations Division at 703-696-1965.

Army Community Service (ACS) EFMP

The Army Community Service (ACS) Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) provides the following services:

• Information and referral (medical services, social services, educational, and support group, etc)
• Special Needs Accommodation Process (SNAP), which is coordination and placement of children, youth and teens seeking Child, Youth and School Services.
• Liaison for special education rights and responsibilities on and off the installation
• Respite Care
• offers educational and training sessions and provides a special needs video and book resource library.

EFMP at ACS can assist you in finding the services needed within the installation and community. For more information, contact the ACS EFMP Manager at 703-696-3510 / 8467.