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  1. Fit for Life: Healthy Forces, Healthy Families
  2. From the Desk of the Medical Director
  3. Healthy People 2010: Taking Action to Improve the Nation's Health
  4. Cancer Trials Available to TRICARE Beneficiaries
  5. FAQs: TRICARE Vision Coverage
  6. Humana Military, PGBA Offer Claims Processing Resources
  7. TRICARE Benefits Improve for Reservists and Their Families
  8. Alternatives to Hospice Care
  9. Your Primer on TRICARE Prime in the South Region
  10. FAQs about Behavioral Health Care
  11. Thinking Collection Agency for a Beneficiary Claim?
  12. Understanding Hospice Care
  13. PCM Central Offers Unique Tools for Primary Care Managers
  14. Contacts  

  
Fit for Life: Healthy Forces, Healthy Families (Article 1)
Campaign Promotes Wellness Choices for 9.1 Million Beneficiaries 
This year, the Military Health System (MHS) and TRICARE are taking steps to promote healthy lifestyles among its 9.1 million beneficiaries. The Healthy Choices for Life campaign is focused on weight management, smoking cessation and the responsible use of alcohol. Here’s a quick look at why these health issues are so important.

Weight Management
In 2001, the Surgeon General declared overweight and obesity to be a U.S. public health concern. This nationwide problem has only intensified since then. Today, two-thirds of Americans are considered to be overweight, one-third of whom are considered to be obese.

Upward weight trends are also seen in the MHS beneficiary population— active duty service members and families, retired service members and their families, and survivors—with the alarming report that military children are classified as overweight at a higher rate than children in the general American population. More than 3,000 active duty service members are discharged each year for failure to comply with Service’s weight and fitness standards.

Being overweight or obese can lead to other serious health concerns, such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, coronary artery disease, gallstones, respiratory disease, arthritis and cancer. Losing just 5 to 10 percent in body weight can reduce or even eliminate the risk of these health concerns.

Smoking Cessation
Historically, the military has had a reputation as an environment in which tobacco use is accepted and common. Two decades ago, just over half of military personnel on active duty were smokers. In recent years, the Department of Defense (DoD) has increased efforts to reduce tobacco use, and the rate has declined sharply. Despite this improvement, a 2002 survey of active duty service members found the first significant increase in smoking after many years of declining smoking rates.*

Responsible Use of Alcohol
DoD survey findings indicate an increase in average alcohol consumption and the prevalence of heavy alcohol use. The rate of heavy alcohol use is nearly one in five active duty personnel, and binge drinking—consuming five or more drinks on the same occasion at least once during the past 30 days—rates are highest among young military personnel in some social situations.* Heavy alcohol use and binge drinking are higher among some active duty members than rates of similar civilian age groups.

Healthy Choices for Life Campaign
The goal of the Healthy Choices for Life campaign is to help TRICARE beneficiaries make decisions based on healthy choices for themselves and for their families.In addition to other initiatives, TRICARE will feature a regular department, called “Healthy Choices for Life,” in each edition of the TRICARE Provider News newsletter. Look for future articles that offer providers the latest clinical information about weight management, smoking cessation and the responsible use of alcohol. We hope that this information will be beneficial to you in your role of encouraging TRICARE beneficiaries to make healthy choices for life! You can also go online to www.tricare.osd.mil/healthylifestyles for information about initiatives and programs that are available to TRICARE beneficiaries.

* Source: DoD Surveys of Health Related Behaviors Among Military Personnel, 1980 to 2002 (2002 Questions: Any Smoking, Q45 and Q47; Heavy Smoking, Q46 Heavy Alcohol Use, Past 30 Days, Q15-Q18 and Q20-Q23 Binge Drank, Q24, and With Whom Drank, Q25)
 

From the Desk of the Medical Director (Article 2)
Florence Shafiq, Southeast Market Medical Director
There are numerous stories that convey the compassion and excellence of care provided through the partnering of our network physicians and Humana Military Healthcare Services associates. I’d like to share this one with you.

The individuals involved are a beneficiary, her husband who is a military chaplain, and a Humana Military case manager. The beneficiary was diagnosed with a recurrent glioblastoma.

For well over a year, the case manager and the chaplain shared at least one telephone conversation a month. The conversations included responses to therapy with assessment of progress or lack thereof, family involvement, complications of therapy, feelings of despair, of hope, of anger, and finally of resolve and acceptance of the ultimate outcome.

After his wife’s long battle had ended, the chaplain sent the following letter of thanks:
“Almost four months ago, my sweet wife lost a valiant battle to cancer. The whole ordeal lasted almost 20 months. During that time, your case manager served as our health care manager. I am writing to commend her for her unbelievable care and concern for us.

“I have been in the military for almost 25 years and I have never before experienced the kind of personal care and compassion that we received from your case manager. She was there at regular intervals to seek out our needs and concerns, as well as to advise and make sure that my wife’s treatment went smoothly. We never worried about health care because of the case manager’s great care for us. Even after my wife’s death, she continued to call with encouraging words.”

This story demonstrates Humana Military’s credo, “I Put the ‘I CARE’ in TRICARE.” More importantly, it shows the level of collaboration and coordination of care between our TRICARE providers and Humana Military.

It is not often that one receives a note of thanks for one’s daily initiatives. So today, I want to pass on that “thank you” to our providers who continue to deliver such excellent care to our TRICARE beneficiaries.

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