JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Some Transport Costs Paid by Tricare
When it comes to transport or transfer of Tricare patients, how much of the cost is covered by Tricare? Some costs included with Tricare services include: emergency transfers to or from a beneficiary's home, accident scene or other location to a hospital and transfers between hospitals; ambulance transfers from a hospital-based emergency room to a hospital more capable of providing required care; transfers between a hospital or skilled nursing facility and other hospital-based or freestanding outpatient therapeutic or diagnostic department/facility. Payment of services and supplies provided by ambulance personnel at an accident scene may be allowed when the patient's condition warrants transfer to an inpatient acute setting and medical services and/or supplies are provided solely to stabilize the patient's condition while awaiting the arrival of a more urgent means of transfer; e.g., air ambulance services. Tricare does not cover ambulance service used instead of taxi service when the patient's condition would have permitted use of private transportation; transport or transfer of a patient to be closer to home, family, friends or personal physician; or when medicabs or ambicabs transport patients to and from medical appointments.
Added Low-income support
A Veterans Affairs programs provide enhanced services to low-income veterans and their families who are at risk of being homeless. Grants are provided to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that will help break the cycle of homelessness among America's veterans at risk. The grants cover vocational and rehabilitation counseling, employment and training service, educational assistance and health care services. Agencies can provide direct financial assistance for daily living, transportation, child care, rent and utilities and other expenses. They also may propose funding for additional services in their supportive services grant application based on specific needs of veterans in their communities. Eligible families include those who are residing in permanent housing, are homeless and scheduled to become residents of permanent housing within a specified time period or who have left permanent housing and are seeking other housing that is responsive to low-income veteran family's needs.
Dates set for Retiree Days
Preliminary planning is under way for Retiree Appreciation Day programs this Fall at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and Joint Base Andrews. JBAB popular salute to military retirees in the National Capital Area is slated to be held Saturday, Oct. 22, at The Club at Andrews. A full house for this event is again expected. Highlighting both events will be health fairs, including influenza immunizations. For more information, call the Retiree Activities Office on JBAB at 202 767-5244, or on Joint Base Andrews at 301 981-2726. Suggestions for program presentations are welcome.
Is MyPay your way?
The Defense Finance and Accounting System (DFAS) allows Retirees to make changes to their pay accounts and obtain documents without having to go through the toll-free telephone ordeal. It's called MyPay and full instructions on setting up an account are found on www.dfas.mil. The biggest hurdle is a requirement for a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Audio assistance is available at 1-888-332-7411, option five. Video fans may access do-it-yourself help on http://www.dfas.mil/rapay.html
The Retiree Activities Office is open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Visit our office in room A-200A, 1535 Command Drive, call us at 301-981-2726, or e-mail us at rao@andrews.af.mil. Calling the office prior to visiting is recommended to ensure someone is on duty. The RAO also has a website at www.andrews.af.mil, click on ''Retirees" on the right side of the page. There you will find a wealth of information that might be of interest to you. Copies of ''Retiree Activities Corner" articles are online as well. Go to the retirees webpage and find information under the heading ''Newspaper Column."