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 Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a Department of Defense mandatory enrollment program offered by all service branches. It 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. Three program components work collaboratively to support service members and their exceptional family members:

• EFMP Assignments (EFMP-A) considers the family's medical and educational needs when determined that the required services are not available at the service member's current or projected assignment location. 
• EFMP Medical (EFMP-M) supports the program through screening, enrollment, and assignment coordination through the Family Member Travel Screening.
• EFMP Family Service (EFMP-FS) provides information and referral, non-clinical case management, outreach, community support, and relocation assistance for military families with special needs to identify and access programs.

As each service has its own policies, instructions, and regulations, please visit the following sites for service-specific information:

• Army Exceptional Family Member Program
• Navy Exceptional Family Member Program
• Air Force Exceptional Family Member Program
• Marine Corps Exceptional Family Member Program

JBSA Fort Sam Houston (Installation Specific Information)

Early enrollment in EFMP is the service member's guarantee that the military will do its best to match the service member's grade and specialty with a location where the exceptional family member's needs can be met. However, service members who are enrolled are still subject to worldwide assignment and may be called upon to serve an unaccompanied tour. Soldiers are enrolled permanently in EFMP-A and EFMP-M unless medical or special education needs warrant case closure or the soldier is separated from the Army. Soldiers are responsible for keeping their exceptional family member's medical and/or special education documentation current. A review is required as an exceptional family member's condition changes or at least every three years, whichever comes first. To contact EFMP-M located at Brooke Army Medical Center, 210-916-3709, 210-916-2330 or E-mail usarmy.jbsa.medcom-bamc.list.bamc-efmp@mail.mil. The enrollment and family travel screening process has been fully automated. Now you can enroll completely online. We have also created a centralized location for information for EFMs and their families go to https://efmp.army.mil/EnterpriseEfmp/.

Contact the Exceptional Family Member Program Coordinator at 210-221-2705 for additional information and to enroll in EFMP-FS. The JBSA Fort Sam Houston EFMP-FS has a Navy Case Liaison on-site to assist Navy families in program enrollment, who can also be reached at 210-221-2705.

JBSA Lackland (Installation Specific Information)

Personnel arriving with a Special Needs Family Member should contact the Exceptional Family Member Program-Medical (EFMP-M) office upon arrival; they are in Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center (WHASC). Appointments are required for all incoming sponsors who are Q-coded to update information and establish a Lackland EFMP file, information, and limited resources will be provided. Please call 210-292-2775 or 210-292-5864 for an appointment.

For additional information on support services and resources for exceptional family members, please contact the Exceptional Family Member Program - Family Support (EFMP-FS) Coordinator at the Military and Family Readiness Center, Building 1249.

JBSA Randolph (Installation Specific Information)

The Special Needs Identification & Coordination Process (SNIACP) Office on Randolph can help identify and provide referral information for personnel arriving with an exceptional family member. Please call ahead as an appointment is required. At your initial appointment, you will learn about the medical appointment system and the community referral system and will be offered supportive counseling. If you have an EFMP child, the school district in which you live is required by law to meet all children's educational needs beginning at age three.

Respite Care is available through the Air Force Aid Society at the Military & Family Readiness Center. For additional information on support services and resources for exceptional family members, please call 210-652-5321.