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

The EFMP-system is a mandatory enrollment program that works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated medical, educational, housing, community support, and personal services to families with special needs.

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

Screening is mandatory for all family members who will accompany a service member to an overseas duty location, and mandatory for family members enrolled in EFMP. This includes educational screening when the family member is under the age of 21. The military service considers the needs of the family member when considering an overseas assignment.  For additional information see the RAF Mildenhall PCS & Welcome Site.

The Department of Defense operates two programs that provide educational services to children with developmental delays and disabilities, in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Eligibility for services is determined according to procedures outlined in DoD Instruction 1342.12, Provision of Early Intervention and Special Education Services to Eligible DoD Dependents, April 11, 2005.

EDIS -- Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS) is a military program that provides services to eligible beneficiary children with special needs. Early Intervention (EI) provides services for infants and toddlers (birth to 3 years old). Related Services (RS) provides services for children 3-21 yrs old.  EDIS is available at all locations where there is a DoD school.

Early Intervention (0-3 years) -- The EDIS Early Intervention team, consisting of a multi-disciplinary team of allied health professionals, assist families of infants and toddlers with developmental delays or other qualifying conditions to achieve goals that enhance functional independence and support school readiness. EDIS provides services in the child's natural environment (home, childcare center, etc.), and embedded in family routines.

Related Services (3-21 years) -- The Related Services team in cooperation with The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Schools provides special education and related services to school aged children with a disability or other qualifying condition. In overseas communities, the availability of services varies according to the size of the community, its location, and the military mission.

In this community, services may also vary by school. If your child requires specialized services, contact the School Liaison Office (SLO) at DSN 226-5077/5078 or commercial 011-44-1638-525077/ 525078 before accepting housing to find out more about living in the appropriate catchment areas. For example, Lakenheath Elementary School has a preschool program for children with disabilities whereas Feltwell Elementary School does not. Your medical clearance must be approved through your losing installation and any appeal information must go through them.

The Lakenheath Complex Schools include Lakenheath ES, Lakenheath MS, Lakenheath HS, Liberty Intermediate School and Feltwell ES. Feltwell ES and Lakenheath MS are located on RAF Feltwell, which is approximately 11 miles from RAF Lakenheath. Special needs services at Feltwell ES are not at the same level as those at Lakenheath ES. Parents with children on IEPs should contact the schools prior to securing housing.

In the Lakenheath Complex, DoDEA schools provide the following level of services:

• Preschool (3-5 years of age) - This location does not have a preschool program for children with disabilities. Speech and language support may be provided by a communication impaired specialist.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - At this location, direct instruction is provided in the regular classroom or in a resource room. This location would not be appropriate for children with the diagnosis of autism who require individual support or more intensive special education service.
• Communication/Speech - Services are available to provide comprehensive speech and language interventions in individual, small group, and/or general education classroom settings.
• Emotionally Impaired Children with a diagnosis of emotional impairment may receive instruction, behavior modification, and counseling in a resource room setting. There is no self-contained classroom for the emotionally impaired. This placement would not be appropriate for children coming out of a residential placement and/or an alternative educational setting.
• Intellectual Disability (Mental Retardation) Services are available for children who have mild to moderate mental retardation and who require major curriculum modifications to receive instruction in the general education classroom (approximately 50% or greater). The majority of instruction may be in a resource room setting.
• Specific Learning Disability Services are available to provide individualized instruction in the general education classroom with resource room support (up to 50% of the day).
• Special Education Records: Parents of children enrolled in special education should hand-carry all pertinent school and medical documents to include their children's Individualized Education Program (IEP) and current testing and evaluation reports.

If your child requires specialized equipment (for example large print books, an FM trainer, or Braille services) contact the Area Special Education Coordinator in Wiesbaden, Germany.