Accept a denied EFMP station?

Paula Heller — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 10:50:17 -0400

My husband has recently came down on soft orders for a duty station that we would like to pcs to; however there is a really high chance that EFMP will deny the location as services are more than 100 miles from the base for both of our children that are enrolled in EFMP. The location would provide my husband with key development time and is a great career move for him. At the current time our EFMP children do not require extensive medical treatment but will in roughly 4-5 years in which we would need to be close to a hospital as surgeries will be needed. We have decided it would make the best sense to go to this new location to further my husbands career and then be picky about location of the next station since that is when surgerie will be needed. If something were to arise while at this location it is less than a 7 hour drive for family to come and help and they are all more than willing to assist as needed. Can we request to pcs to the location even if EFMP denies the location?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Aug 16 at 2020 11:46 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 11:46:38 -0400

What are soft orders? Was he given choices by branch and this station is among them? Has he been given levy notice or an RFO?

EFMP is not a one size fits all, especially as they have expanded what is covered by the program. Overseas assignments are the hardest to accommodate and may result in an unaccompanied assignment.

The details are important here, not for the people on RP but for your current provider, losing station EFMP office, and gaining EFMP office. I would have to do deep research to figuring out the impact of shrugging off EFMP services. You mentioned surgeries in the next 4-5 years. The gaining EFMP office can figure out whether they are available. That four way conversation is important. Gt them involved sooner than later. This communication takes time.

Response by MAJ Jason Sierakowski made Aug 16 at 2020 12:24 PM

MAJ Jason Sierakowski — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 12:24:01 -0400

There is no such thing as soft orders. He can have a Request For Orders (RFO) which means that all the checks and balances have been initially meet to execute issuing orders from his branch at HRC.
This includes EFMP being vetted through the installation and local economy to have services available for those members enrolled in EFMP.

There is no such assignment for key development time to be that important in which it will kill off someone's career.

You basically answered your own question... If your family feels comfortable delaying medical services, then completely cancel your EFMP and resubmit once your at the desired assignment. You most likely will be complaining the entire time that medical needs are not met....don't do that if you choose this route.

Use caution, the propose of EFMP is to have those services available. You must ensure that they are coded properly to have the service available. Example: "audiology cochlear implant" there is no code for " pediatric cochlear implant audiology" there is a massive difference with developmental needs.

My opinion: family is first. He will have just as much opportunity compared to his peers as long as he performed well at his assignment. Don't sacrifice the family for what he thinks branch at HRC is telling him is the best option. HRCs job is to get his and his families to an assignment that fits all needs.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2020 8:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 20:52:13 -0400

When you accept an assignment which requires EFMP and EFMP comes back denied but you choose to take the assignment and the family member, you will occur all cost and and possible medical expenses because it was denied. Once denied, it is put in the system. The question you have to answer for yourself/your family is the assignment worth risking the safety of your child or putting your child in a position where needed medical care is delayed (no disrespect intended).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2020 5:58 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 17:58:09 -0400

My daughter has an EFMP - since six weeks old. She got diagnosed with a rare genetic condition at 6 weeks old. I got a compassionate to Offutt AFB Ne from Ft Riley since I am from Nebraska and she was diagnosed there. I did about almost 4 years there - I got an extra 10 months after my 3 years was up from the medical stabilization (which only gives you 4 years from the date EFMP was approved).

When I was figuring out where to go next nearly everything that branch came back with said EFMP denied. Although I'm glad I didn't go to Hood - it's close-ish to home. 12 hour drive. They said no -twice. The first time I hadn't updated her EFMP post transplant. Did it - still denied and talked to EFMP there and said could not provide services despite there being a transplant clinic 20 min from Hood. I did have pending orders for Hood for a month and a half actually. I'm not sure how since EFMP said that they denied it twice the day it was submitted by branch.

I'm at JBLM because that's the only place that would take her EFMP. But before that - on my compassionate despite being intel and I was in an intel job it was a joint unit. Yeah my career did suffer for it. I had to defer SLC 3 times because of my daughter's condition - and I became a single mom when she was a year old. She's six now.

I could probably be a MSG by now if I had been able to go to SLC in 2015 when I first had a class date but my daughter was more important. She still is. Right now I'm pushing four more years to 20 solely because of her.

From what I understand and can tell in a quick search that once you are enrolled in EFMP, that's going to take priority for assignments. If a SM has dependents enrolled in EFMP - that's going to determine assignments. That's from what I can gather.

Have you talked to the EFMP on base?