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.

Special Needs Identification Program

The Air Force Special Needs Identification Program, referred to at DOD as the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), is a multi-service program that is designed to ensure that families with special needs are stationed near facilities, military or civilian, that can meet their special needs. The EFMP office will serve as a liaison between the military member and various services in the local area.

An exceptional family member can only be the member's spouse, child, or other persons actually residing in the member's household, who are dependent on the member for over half of their financial support. Enrollment is mandatory for service members who have family member's special medical or educational needs.

EFMP enrollment criteria are divided into three categories:

• Medically Related Services (MRS) -- Developmental, corrective and other required supportive services which allows the student to benefit from a special educational program, and which are provided by or under professional medical supervision (i.e., speech, physical and occupational therapy; audiology, dietetics, ophthalmology, etc.) Like the SES category, these must be on the IEP in order to be considered MRS.
• General Medical Services (GMS) -- A variety of physiological, psychological, or social conditions of a chronic nature that have been medically diagnosed and require specialized treatment, referred by a medical provider.
• Special Education Services (SES) -- Special instruction designed to meet the unique educational needs of a child. This includes education provided in school, at home, in a hospital or in an institution, and physical and vocational education programs. An Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is normally required to be considered in this category.

Early Intervention Program

Purpose -- Educational and Development Intervention Services (EDIS) provides family centered services to infants and toddlers (0 to 36 months of age) with established developmental delays or with a medical condition which has a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay. In Oklahoma, these services are provided through a program called Sooner Start. They may be contacted at 325-787-7360. After a child turns three years old, these services are provided through the public schools.

Structural Accessibility Base Housing

Encompasses design modifications and enhancements that permit safe access to and from military housing in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 90-480, Architectural Barriers Act (i.e., ramps, accessible bathrooms and kitchens, etc.)

The TRICARE Service Center Representative at Tinker can also provide you with resources available for special needs family members in this area. Families can contact OASIS at 800-24-OASIS or 325-271-6302 in Oklahoma City for assistance in locating services. Additional assistance can be obtained by calling Military One Source at 800-342-9647, twenty-four hours a day.

To contact the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Handicaps call 800-999-5599 or write to PO Box 1492 Washington DC 20010