EFMP is an acronym for the Exceptional Family Member Program. It is a Department of Defense program to help military families who have a family member with specialized medical needs. It can be both helpful and frustrating when it comes to the stress of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) but its overall goal is to ensure the EFMP member’s medical needs are met at the next assignment. While it might require a lot of work on your part to be able to PCS, here are some tips that can make it a little bit easier.
Tips for PCSing with an EFMP family member:
1. Start early
It takes time to work through the process of having a family member as part of EFMP. Once you receive your assignment, contact your EFMP office to start working through the steps to get cleared for your assignment. You have to have certain tasks completed before you will receive your orders and it takes time. Your EFMP office can also help you find new medical support services when you move to a new assignment.
2. Do your own research
You can receive support from the assignment manager within your installation’s EFMP office, but you also need to do your own research. While you can receive a list of places that accept Tricare and provide the care your EFMP family member needs, there may be additional requirements or limitations that you will not discover until you check out each recommended location.
3. Check on wait times for care
When looking at locations that provide care, you should confirm is how long of a waitlist there is. Oftentimes, clinics won’t be able to put you on a waitlist until you have a referral and unfortunately, if you are switching Tricare regions you will likely need a new referral that will delay when you can get on the waitlist. Make sure you always reach out directly to a clinic or hospital when looking for care so you can get the best information.
4. Get copies of medical records, IEPs, any specialized care
Having your medical records with you and not having to wait on the doctor’s office to mail them to the next location can really help in the process of moving and establishing new care. Ask the doctor(s) you are seeing if they can provide you with either a printed copy of your medical records or a CD. Having all the information in hand when you go to establish care with a new clinic will not only make it easier on the clinic, but can also help ensure your EFMP member gets the care they need as quickly as possible.
If you have an IEP or other specialized care, having the paperwork completed for the process you did at your last assignment can help you get established at your new base. Make sure you have copies with you so you are not waiting on someone to send over the information.
5. Get extra medication
Another tip is to get extra medication before moving. As mentioned earlier if you are transferring from one Tricare region to another it may require new referrals and this can take time and sometimes leave a gap in coverage. Having extra medication to not only give you peace of mind when moving but also give you time at your new assignment to get everything in place. See if your current provider can provide extra medication or refills to ensure you have the coverage you need when PCSing.
6. Be aware referrals don’t transfer
As discussed earlier, be aware referrals don’t always transfer. Talk to your EFMP assignment manager about this possibility and see if there is any way to ensure the referrals transfer or if you can get your referral started prior to arrival. This is a challenge that many EFMP families experience and can be very frustrating.
For additional support check out Military One Source’s great resources for EFMP. Another great organization that helps EMFP families is Exceptional Families of the Military which provides resources, checklists and support to help EMFP families throughout their military service journey.