THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 29, 1996 TAG: 9605280060
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: My Turn
SOURCE: BY REAR ADM. WILLIAM ROWLEY
LENGTH: 67 lines
I've enjoyed reading Larry Maddry's recent columns as they followed the community effort that rallied to help the Garlands, the family with a child who needs an expensive protective bed. The fund-raising campaign spearheaded by a local business was typical of the generosity and warmth that I have come to expect in Hampton Roads.
I also really liked the May 8 military page column by Susan Boland that very effectively portrayed the healing power of the kindness of neighbors. Ms. Boland hit the mark exactly when she described the retired military community as ``masters of support'' for local military families.
I'd like to add my own voice to those of these two insightful columnists and talk about some of the support mechanisms in place for military families whose members may require serious medical care. The Navy offers financial and personal help for families facing a medical crisis.
First, I'd like to talk about basic medical benefits. I know every member of the military community knows something about Tricare and CHAMPUS, but these programs are complex - most of us break it down into, ``CHAMPUS pays for 80 percent, I pay for 20 percent.'' Well, when you're facing a medical bill that is creeping into the thousands, that 20 percent becomes a lot.
Before you despair, please contact a health benefits adviser; there are many programs under CHAMPUS that can provide full coverage in the event of a medical catastrophe or severe disability.
Tricare Prime is a program that offers full medical coverage at little or no cost to the service member. The Program for the Handicapped is a CHAMPUS program designed to ensure that military families can get the equipment or treatment they need for their family members that cannot be provided in the military medical system.
There are many options for military families in a serious medical situation, and health benefits advisors are specially trained to identify the best of these options. The health benefits office at Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, can be reached at 398-7377 or 398-7387.
Should you still require financial help for a medical crisis, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society can help. Last year in Hampton Roads, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society provided $149,000 in medical and dental assistance to military families. This money was provided either by loan or grant to families who needed help with mounting medical bills. The medical center branch office can be reached at 399-1675.
For families having to travel to Hampton Roads because a military family member had been hospitalized, two Fisher Houses provide comfortable housing in a community setting.
Next, I want to talk about the Exceptional Family Member Program. This is a Navy program designed to ensure that Navy families with members who have special physical or intellectual needs have the medical, educational and emotional support they need.
Those who make assignments work with EFMP to make sure that the military member is assigned to a location that can provide the necessary support services. In Hampton Roads, EFMP provides counseling referrals, support groups and community resource information.
Finally, I want to touch on the family support networks found throughout the Navy: Navy Family Service Centers, command ombudsmen and the chaplain community. These groups all work with each other to provide a continuum of support and assistance for military families.
My personal opinion is the Navy support network in Hampton Roads is the best I've seen anywhere. But maybe that's because the civilian community here has given us such a high standard to live up to! MEMO: Rear Adm. William Rowley is commanding officer of the Portsmouth
Naval Medical Center. by CNB