European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday May 18, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 9changes in store for military health care by Janet Howells Tierney. Washington Bureau Washington military beneficiaries should find it easier to get medical treatment under a new program that gives local commanders authority to tap a variety of health care sources Pentagon officials say. The program called coordinated care will be phased in Over three years it should address the primary concern of the military health care systems 9 million users a Access to treatment said Enrique Mendez the assistant Secretary of defense for health affairs. It. A the military health services system needs a fundamental change in business practices and that is what coordinated care will achieve a Mendez said. He was joined by the surgeons general from the army Navy and air Force at a hearing wednesday before the Senate armed services manpower and person Nel subcommittee coordinated care will place the responsibility for the Access Cost and Quality of health services in the hands of local medical facility commanders. Each commander will maintain a computer listing of service members and eligible civilians in the local Community and decide How Best to provide for their health care needs using available military and civilian sources. One possible source would allow commanders to build on programs already offered near some stateside military installations. The programs Are the army and air Force primary care for the uniformed services program or Primus and Nav care for the Navy. They contract with civilian health care providers to operate satellite facilities and the clinics offer sick Call Type care for family members. The entire Bill is paid by the military. If commanders think the Community needs Access to other civilian sources such As specialized care agreements will be arranged in Advance to ensure the facility will accept patients covered by champs the civilian health and medical care program for the uniformed services. Mendez said that letting local commanders decide How Best to provide health care for their Community based on available resources should mean lower costs and easier Access because problems can be identified and fixed quickly. Often families become so frustrated while waiting for care at military facilities that they opt for expensive private medical care which drive up champs costs officials said. The services have tested coordinated care at several Sites in the United states and expect to expand to other areas in the next few years. However one military family group doubts that coordinated care will live up to the promises. A Access to no Cost health care in a military treatment facility varies from place to place and Day by Day a said Dorsey d. Chescavage of the National military family association a non profit group that lobbies Congress to improve policies for military family members a without guaranteed Access there is no military medical Chescavage said the military a attempt to increase Access with Primus and Nav care satellite clinics was successful at first but now the clinics Are slowly buckling under the huge demand for care a Waits at these clinics arc now two to six hours a Chescavage said. families cannot receive care at military treatment facilities or at the satellite clinics their Only option is to use the civilian health care program she said. Military families pay to percent of medical costs under the program in addition to deductibles ranging from $50 to $300 depending on rank. The government pays the rests amps Dave Stdio heading Home maj. Jack r. Swarsbrook of the 50th tac fighter Wing Hahn a Germany climbs into a f-16d fighting Falcon. The plane is one of four f-16s heading to Hulman Field ind. The four Are the first planes redeployed since it was announced the Wing would be disbanded. Us eur limits hiring of new local nationals Heidelberg Germany the . Army in Europe has begun restricting the hiring of new local National workers to save Job vacancies for local workers who will lose their jobs As army bases close and consolidate. Unlike us. Employees local workers can to return to jobs in the United states and they wont be leaving Europe with their military sponsors said Archie grim Mett chief of usage urn a civilian personnel . A a a a a a a a. A during these times of turbulence it is especially important to be very careful on the number of new local National employees hired because we want to ensure the placement opportunities of our current local National employees Are preserved a Grimmett said. Local nationals make up 53 percent of the commands civilian workforce of about 100,000. Usa eur officials expect the number of civilian employees to decline in proportion to the reduction of service members in Europe Over the next four years. Officials could not provide an estimate of the number of jobs they expect to Cut during the draw Down. Since the defense department hiring freeze began in dec. 1989, the army a work Force in Europe has been reduced by about 600 civilians a month including both and local National workers. Under the most recent exception to the freeze the . Army in Europe can hire one worker from outside the system for every three openings. To further slow hiring of local nationals requests to fill local National positions with outside applicants now must be approved by a major command. The v corps commander for example must approve requests for openings Iri the Frankfurt military Community. Other major commands include Vii corps the 21st theater army area come and the Southern european task Force the Usa eur chief of staff will approve requests for Usa eur Headquarters positions and those in units that report directly to the command such As the 18th engr brigade and the 1st personnel come. The command can also fill positions for firefighters Security guards and medical personnel without regard to the freeze a command spokeswoman said Friday. Continental giving away Frankfurt Germany a Continental airlines plans to give away 25 round trip tickets to the United states to inaugurate its Frankfurt to Newark n.j., service june 15. The ticket Giveaway called a yellow ribbon going Home a will be conducted in conjunction with the scheduled airlines travel offices overseas the army son base travel Agency in Germany. The contest is open to . Military id card holders 18 years or older who were stationed or assigned in Germany during operations desert shield and desert storm according to a statement released by Sato. Winners will be chosen by a drawing june 3 and Noti fied by june 8. Applications for the drawing will be available at Sato offices in Germany from May 20 to May 31 and in the stars and stripes May 18 and 23. Applications should be deposited in drop boxes at Sato offices in Germany by Midnight May 31. The winners will Fly on Continentals flight 15 from Frankfurt to Newark on june 15. Return flights must be completed by aug. 31. The ticket Giveaway is linked to a similar promotion being conducted in the United states. The . Contest titled a yellow ribbon Frankfurt family reunion a will give away 100 round trip tickets to Frankfurt to relatives of desert storm veterans who Are stationed in Germany military recruiting drive focuses on future Worra it officers Berlin a a warrant officer recruiting drive will be held at Mcnair Cavern in Berlin on monday. Those interested can attend either the 9 . Or 1 . Sessions enlisted soldiers can submit applications for consideration. Requirements include a it score of 110 or higher . Citizenship and a maximum age of 46. Applicants also must have a career Field that will Cross Over within a military occupational specially with the exception of the flight program. For the flight program applicants must be younger than 29 and Nave perfect vision. For More information Contact master sgt. Emray Poulson at ets 332-6286/6289. Munitions unit recognized Ghedi a Italy a the air Force outstanding unit award for 1990 was awarded to the 7402nd munitions support so at Ghedi an italian air Force base about 70 Miles East of Milan. The 7402nd was praised for its outstanding work in munitions storage and maintenance the units close relationship with the italian air Force and excellent ratings in inspections. Between 1988 and 1990, members of the 105-person unit won a Safe a Best general Saintc Nance award and the information management officer of the year award and the units custody Branch received 16th air forces Best Small unit Security police award. The unit was singled out for its work in a series of joint . And italian air Force exercises and training activities. Civil Engineer honoured Raf upper Heyford England the 20th tac fighter wings civil Engineer was selected As the Safe civil engineering manager of the year in the senior military manager category. Of. Col. Joseph c. Munter won the award based on exercise evaluations resource and Money management personnel recognition programs and facilities upgrading. Under munters leadership the civil Engi nearing unit earned the highest ratings for base recovery forces during a nato tactical evaluation in november 1990. A. Aviano Wing cops award Aviano a Italy the 40th tac support Wing at Aviano a Italy has received a Safe a outstanding unit safety award category ii for 1990. Capt. James Carroll received the weapons safety officer of the year award at the same ceremony which was held May 1, the award to the Wing is a Safe a for achievement in safety management. In presenting the award maj. Gen. Gerald Daniel commander of the 16th air Force credited the safety division with heightening awareness in safety throughout the base. Carroll was credited with identifying safety hazards and managing Aviano a weapons safety program
