Author: Joel Schofer, MD, MBA, CPE
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And We’re Back! DoD Announces Post-9/11 GI Bill Education Benefits Transfer Exception
WASHINGTON (NNS) — The Department of Defense (DoD) has granted a temporary exception to policy to allow select service members to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to dependents until July 12, 2019.
NAVADMIN 020/19, released Jan. 24, announces that for a limited time, Sailors with at least 10 years of service who are unable to serve four additional years, due to statute or standard policy, may transfer their education benefits to dependents if they agree to serve the maximum time authorized. For example, enlisted Sailors within four years of high year tenure or officers within four years of their statutory limit of service are eligible.
The policy exception is retroactive to July 12, 2018 and ends July 11, 2019, after which Sailors will need to commit to the full four years of service to transfer their benefits.
Sailors with at least 10 years of service whose transfer of education benefits applications were rejected due to the policy changes announced in NAVADMIN 170/18, and who are still serving on active duty or in the selected reserve (SELRES), must reapply for transfer of education benefits by following guidance in NAVADMIN 236/18, including completion of the new statement of understanding at https://myeducation.netc.navy.mil/webta/home.html#nbb.
For complete information on this temporary exception to policy, read NAVADMIN 020/19 at www.npc.navy.mil.
Get more information about the Navy from US Navy facebook or twitter.
For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnp/.
Initial Blog Changes Meet Approval!
I made the following changes to the blog, and its review by PAO gave it the thumbs up:
- I changed the title to remove references to the Navy and the Medical Corps.
- I removed the Medical Corps logo.
- I removed the pictures of Naval vessels.
- I added the military disclaimer to the top and bottom (along the right hand side) of every page.
I should hopefully start posting content again soon. I just have to work through the details on what I can post and what needs to be reviewed before I post it.
Thanks for all the support expressed while I work through this!
Pausing the Blog
I apologize, but I have to hit the pause button on the blog while I try to comply with a BUMED instruction I was previously unaware of:
BUMEDINST 5721.3d – Approval Process for Public Release of Information (highlighted sections added by me as I was reading the document and highlighting the parts that affect the blog)
I wish I had another choice, but I don’t.
Change in URL to DoD Opioid Prescriber Safety Training Program
BACKGROUND: All prescribing providers caring for TRICARE beneficiaries in military treatment facilities (MTFs) are required to complete the initial opioid prescriber safety training program (OPST) upon starting work in the MTF and every 3 years (or as otherwise directed) afterwards. This on line training had been located at https://opstp.cds.pesgce.com/hub.php as published in Defense Health Agency Procedural Instruction, Number 6025.04, dated, 8 June 2018. The web address was changed in November 2018 to:
https://dhaj7.adobeconnect.com/opioidtraining18/event/registration.html
Although a message was distributed at that time, the DHA Chief Medical Officer has learned that some MTFs may be referring to the DHAPI in search of this training module. The DHAPI will be updated with the correct web address. However, DHA requests you make widest dissemination of the new web address so that prescribing providers are not impeded in their effort to certify in this required training.
KEY MESSAGES:
- The web address for the DoD Opioid Prescriber Safety Training Program published in the Defense Health Agency Procedural Instruction, Number 6025.04, dated, 8 June 2018 has changed. The new url is:
https://dhaj7.adobeconnect.com/opioidtraining18/event/registration.html
- All prescribing providers caring for TRICARE beneficiaries in MTFs are required to complete initial OPST upon starting work in the MTF and every 3 years (or as otherwise directed) afterwards.
- The web address to OPST changed after DHAPI 6025.04 was published. A message was distributed alerting users to the new web address in November 2018, however the DHA Chief Medical Officer has learned that the new web address may not have reached across the entire MHS.
- An update to DHAPI 6025.04 is pending. Until then, please make widest dissemination possible of the new web address for the DoD Opioid Prescriber Safety Training Program.
Government Sponsor, Health Outcomes Research Center of Excellence, NMC Portsmouth – O4-O6
NMCP is seeking candidates to assume the position of Government Sponsor for the Health Outcomes Research Centers of Excellence (HORCE). This is a is a collaborative healthcare research partnership between the United States Department of Defense Military Health System (DOD) and Health ResearchTx LLC (HRTX) that was established in 2010. The primary aims of the HORCE program are to:
- Improve health outcomes
- Advance patient safety
- Increase force readiness
- Lower healthcare costs
HORCE seeks to advance the goals of military medicine while also improving healthcare across the United States. To do this, HORCE leverages the power of the DOD to perform collaborative healthcare studies across a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas with the best medical minds from the DOD and civilian worlds. This also highlights DOD medical leadership to a broader audience in the civilian world and affords research opportunity via a public-private partnership, with a HRTX who provides funding for the program while DOD provides in-kind expertise and facility access. Over time, this model has delivered significant benefits to DOD at little or no cost.
The role of the Government Sponsor is to advise and facilitate adherence to DOD guidelines, ethics and good research practices. Additionally, the incumbent will serve as the government subject matter expert to recruit active duty medical officers and graduate medical education trainees to participate in novel research while proactively following DOD requirements.
The position is open to faculty at the 04 to 06 level, all Corps. Anticipated time commitment is equivalent to 0.05-0.1 FTE. The preferred candidate will have the following attributes:
- Experience and familiarity in the conduct of clinical and outcomes research, government research protections, policy and appropriations.
- A track record of broad superior performance in both clinical and leadership positions.
- Significant interpersonal, communicative, and collaborative skills.
- Superior military bearing.
- Understanding of operational settings and understand operational imperatives.
- Be available to turnover in the MARCH-APRIL 2019.
Applications are due by 15 FEB and the application details are in this announcement.
Head of Student Programs – O4
Here’s the announcement:
This is a great opportunity for one of our best and brightest to make a significant impact as the Head of Student Programs. In this position, you have cognizance over the HPSP, FAP, NADDS, and Nurse Candidate Programs. We’re seeking an O-4 with operational experience who has completed a post-residency utilization tour. PD is attached. Billet is on the NSA Bethesda campus.
Interested candidates should be in their PCS window and should submit packages (CV/Bio/LOI) to your Detailer by February 8, 2019. Please contact your Detailer with any questions about the process or timeline.
Initial Application for Board Certification Pay and Your Proof of Certification
Here is some info from BUMED about Board Certification Pay (BCP) for those applying for it the first time:
Please make sure that the date on the proof of board certification that you submit is reflective of the true date of your certification. The Special Pays team has encountered a few packages in which the date on the letter from the respective board is later than the actual date of certification. This particularly seems to impact the Internal Medicine community. Currently, the “fix” is for the individual to reach out to the board and ask for a revised letter reflecting the actual date of certification.
For awareness, BCP is retroactively paid to the date of board certification, so any disparity could result in forfeiture of hundreds/thousands of dollars.
We in the Corps Chief’s office are working to see if we can find a less administratively intensive way of getting the dates right, but in the meantime, it is in everyone’s best interest to make sure they are getting all the pay to which they are entitled.
Any question about special pays should be directed to your command’s special pays coordinator.
Use DoD ID Number and Not Your SSN on Letters to the Board
Live and learn…
You no longer use your social security number on letters to promotion boards. The middle of this webpage at PERS says:
Also, you MUST use your FULL 10 digit DoD identification number on your cover letter and any document that does not already contain it.
Here is the updated sample letter to a board from PERS.
Personal Finance for the Military Physician: A 2019 Update
I updated my Personal Finance for the Military Physician talk for 2019 and have this week’s articles listed below:
Here are this week’s articles:
1 in 3 eligible active-duty troops signed up for DoD’s new retirement system
10 Ways To Know You Are Competent to DIY Your Investments
12 Things You Should Know About Choosing a Financial Adviser
Diversification is (Almost) Undefeated
Here’s How the Stock Market Has Historically Performed After a Down Year
Mil Money: Here’s how you can get the most out of the new military retirement system
MILTAX: FREE TAX SERVICES – THE ESSENTIALS
My Money Is Worth More Than Your Money
Nursing Dollars (a discussion on long-term care insurance)
The Gift of Life (a discussion of life expectancy and the financial implications)
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 