Wordy Wednesday: Tricare ABA; Let’s Beat a Dead Horse

Yes, I know. We have touched on this topic before…like 10 times. You read it in your social media feeds almost daily with all the changes, laws, and rants about it. So why am I sitting here wasting your time again? For the same reasons I did last time. Things are a changin’.

First off, let me provide you with this freaking awesome chart explaining the differences in the Tricare ABA programs there currently are- Tricare_ABA_Comparison_Chart_March2014 that was American Military Families Autism Support Community (AMFAS). I belong to the one in our region and the group for the region we are moving too. They each have their own Facebook pages and support groups by location. I’m a big advocate of being able to communicate when you need to communicate immediately to answer questions. I hate mulling over a question I have waiting for a office or store to open their telephone lines or doors. I love social media because I can almost instantaneously get an answer to my question.

I am linked to AMFAS via Facebook and yesterday a new meme caught my eye and sent me into a panic reading over their article.

AMFAS.ORG had that scrolling across my Facebook account. GAH, FFFFFT! Those weren’t exactly the words I used. But for the sake of not offending our readers, I will keep it PG. Enter a few eye rolls and I was more than a little irritated. Riddle me this Batman, didn’t we just go through changes. Changes that were so unrealistic and ridiculous, that they were resended? Um, yea. So why are trying to do this again? Nevertheless, a Tricare ABA consolidation program is coming this year.

I do understand that some of the retirees are not getting the level of care they need and qualify for and there are a few other issues arising from the current programs. However, the more I mull it over I realize this is basically Tricare trying to cut costs again and streamline programs. AMFAS provided two links to reports given to congress

Report 1

Report 2

 

Head on over to AMFAS for more information regarding the Tricare ABA consolidation program.

Tricare and Therapy Thursday: Tricare to Close All Walk-in Offices 2014

I don’t know about you, but if I call and get one more automated virtual assistant, I will throw my phone. Whoever invented the “please tell me why you are calling” I will hunt you down. Why? You try calling Tricare or other businesses regarding a question with three screaming kids in the background. It is hard enough without the automated lady; it’s harder when she mistakes your child’s cries as #3 for calling in Chinese. I always felt comfort knowing when something came up I could easily go to our local Tricare office and talk to a live person- in English. However, it looks like even those days are over. Last month it was reported that Tricare will close its walk-in offices due to low number of walk-ins and cost.

In November of this year, Militarytimes.com reported that the 189 walk-in Tricare locations will shut its doors next year (all overseas locations will remain open). So start practicing your Chinese, don’t use a Bluetooth when calling (they seem to never hear me on them) and find a safe, quiet and sane room to conduct your Tricare calls in. And if all else fails- scream human into the phone (yelling “representative” seems to work too).

More Information Regarding Tomorrow’s Blog Hop

We are teaming up with our friends a Military Special Needs Network for our first “special” kind of blog hop tomorrow.

We are asking our bloggy friends – and friends of friends – to write on the theme Stronger Together. This can include posts featuring things we do to support others in the military and/or special needs community, how you’ve been helped in the past and intend to pay it forward, stories of families coming together during sequestration, finding your “tribe” through online support groups and blogging, or anything else that goes with the general theme.

To participate, write your story. Then come over here Monday morning (Oct. 14), and follow the instructions on how to “link up.” Then share and promote the link-up page on your blog, Facebook and other social media platforms. Finally, click-through and read some of the other outstanding bloggers who have linked-up. This is a great way for military special needs bloggers to connect & discover new favorites.

Wordy Wednesday- Army Acronym with Most Meanings

Holy Moses! So I was trying to think of a word for today and seriously stuck. I think I know what so many mean I over look that so many people don’t and just assume. So many times I have heard Hubs talk about how the Army has an acronym for everything from AAAA to ZULU. I don’t know what was more annoying; an acronym for a single letter Alpha (A) or an acronym that has 18 different meanings. So I decided to do a little investigating and see what all acronyms the Army does use. And then I ran across the mother of all acronyms.

I was totally laughing at myself when I was researching this. Who else would spend time looking for the acronym with the most meanings? This girl! I’ve got one kid down for a nap, one getting his medical treatment and the oldest two playing Wii while he receives it. I could be doing a million and one things right now; like taking a nap. But no, I find this way more interesting. So what is the acronym with the most meanings? 27 meanings; say what!?

I know, I know. Not a totally helpful and resourceful article; but it was a fun one. We always say the Army has an acronym for everything. Here is proof not only do they, they have just a single one that has 27 meanings. I challenge all of you to find me an Army acronym that has more. I don’t know what is more sad; the fact I googled Army acronym with most meanings and found this site or that Google spit out over 45,000,000 results.

Wordy Wenesday- CYS

It might not be morning anymore where your at, but here in a Hawaii it is. And it is a beautiful one. Only a small cloud cap on the mountain by base; so you can see the observation tower at the top as the clouds pass.

But I’m not writing to boast about my amazing life here; well sometimes {wink}. This morning I was planning on re-registering my three spawn with Child and Youth Services(CYS). Before now all three had expiration dates in three different months. Finally, I let SB’s lapse and I’m going to do Bugs early. Maybe we can finally get them on the same schedule?

So what is Child and Youth Service? (CYS)? For us here in Hawaii, and I think most military installations, CYS is under MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation). Under MWR you will find a lot of helpful programs from a Scream-Free Parenting course, New Baby Program and how to sign up for swim lessons. The most important department for me under MWR is Child and Youth Services (CYS).

At CYS, the one thing you need to do and know is this is where you go to register your children for sports, Parents Night Out (if your base supports this), after school programs, hourly care and more. Mainly if you want your child to participate in anything on base, they will need to be registered with CYS.

I probably picked the wrong month to have my children re-registered with CYS. This is a yearly re-registration you will have to do. Why is August a bad month? Well one of the requirements is a up to date physical and shots. Which means you will be battling all those parents (like I did yesterday) trying to get their children up to date for school enrollment. But to help limit the time I linked up the Hawaii CYS registration packet that can be found online. I am assuming that some of the forms are Army wide. If you plan on downloading please make sure you print off the ones that are relevant for you.

Hawaii CYS Registration Packet 

 

Have a beautiful day!