Third Army transitions medical services to Shaw Published Nov. 18, 2009 By Sgt. Jason Thompson Third Army Public Affairs FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. -- With the future relocation of Third Army and U.S. Army Central to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., right around the corner, there are many questions across every spectrum imaginable, to include healthcare services. Many servicemembers and family members are wondering what services to expect and where they will go to receive healthcare service once they arrive at Shaw. Lieutenant Col. Jeff Mosso, Third Army surgeon's office, is the lead medical planner for Base Realignment and Closure, and is assisting with the transition of healthcare services from Fort McPherson, Ga., to Shaw. Echoing the command's commitment to provide quality healthcare for the Soldiers and families of Third Army, Colonel Mosso said he is working hand-in-hand with the Shaw community to ensure the transition of medical services is a smooth and seamless process. He said Third Army, in coordination with the U.S. Army Medical Command, Dental Command and Veterinarian Command, is putting forth unwavering efforts to ensure the appropriate agreements, procedures and processes are in place at Shaw prior to the arrival of Third Army's Soldiers and family members. "As servicemembers and their families relocate to Shaw Air Force Base, healthcare services will fundamentally remain unchanged from what they have been accustomed to," said Colonel Mosso. "All of our servicemembers and their dependents will continue to receive healthcare equal to, if not greater than, the service they received at the Joel Lawrence Clinic and throughout Atlanta." Servicemembers and eligible dependents will be qualified to receive healthcare services through the 20th Medical Group and local TRICARE network providers in the Sumter community. The 20th Medical Group has the capacity to serve a vast majority of Third Army's needs, but not unlike Fort McPherson, we can expect that some Third Army personnel and family members may be outsourced to the local TRICARE network. Those who are interested and would like to check availability of primary care managers in the Shaw area can go online to the TRICARE website at, http://www.humana-military.com/south/bene/tools-resources/BeneSiteProvLoc.asp. Shaw and the 20th Medical Group provides an assortment of medical and dental services including family practice, pediatric care, limited gynecological services, immunizations, general dentistry, physical therapy, optometry, substance abuse counseling, and more, said Colonel Mosso. Other services not available through the 20th Medical Group will be provided through the TRICARE network. Although Shaw provides basic dental services to servicemembers, family members eligible through the TRICARE dental program will be outsourced to other dentistry offices within the local area. "We are continuing to work with our partners at Shaw and the 20th Medical Group as we prepare for the closure of Fort McPherson and move to Shaw," said Colonel Mosso. "We want this to be as smooth a transition as it can be. We understand that not everything will be easy going forward, but we're working hard to alleviate the headaches for the individuals and families making the move with ARCENT." As Fort McPherson moves forward in the preparation to closing the gates, the Joel Lawrence Clinic on post will also begin to scale back services. As of Nov. 16, Joel Lawrence is no longer accepting new enrollments for family members. Family members already enrolled at Joel Lawrence will continue to receive support until Oct. 1, 2010, when the clinic will become a troop medical clinic for active duty servicemembers only and family members will be referred through the Atlanta area TRICARE network of providers. Joel Lawrence TMC will close as of July 15, 2011, and those Soldiers who remain after the closure will be referred out to the Tricare network with additional deployment or readiness assistance available at Fort Gordon and Fort Benning, Ga.
Third Army transitions medical services to Shaw Published Nov. 18, 2009 By Sgt. Jason Thompson Third Army Public Affairs FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. -- With the future relocation of Third Army and U.S. Army Central to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., right around the corner, there are many questions across every spectrum imaginable, to include healthcare services. Many servicemembers and family members are wondering what services to expect and where they will go to receive healthcare service once they arrive at Shaw. Lieutenant Col. Jeff Mosso, Third Army surgeon's office, is the lead medical planner for Base Realignment and Closure, and is assisting with the transition of healthcare services from Fort McPherson, Ga., to Shaw. Echoing the command's commitment to provide quality healthcare for the Soldiers and families of Third Army, Colonel Mosso said he is working hand-in-hand with the Shaw community to ensure the transition of medical services is a smooth and seamless process. He said Third Army, in coordination with the U.S. Army Medical Command, Dental Command and Veterinarian Command, is putting forth unwavering efforts to ensure the appropriate agreements, procedures and processes are in place at Shaw prior to the arrival of Third Army's Soldiers and family members. "As servicemembers and their families relocate to Shaw Air Force Base, healthcare services will fundamentally remain unchanged from what they have been accustomed to," said Colonel Mosso. "All of our servicemembers and their dependents will continue to receive healthcare equal to, if not greater than, the service they received at the Joel Lawrence Clinic and throughout Atlanta." Servicemembers and eligible dependents will be qualified to receive healthcare services through the 20th Medical Group and local TRICARE network providers in the Sumter community. The 20th Medical Group has the capacity to serve a vast majority of Third Army's needs, but not unlike Fort McPherson, we can expect that some Third Army personnel and family members may be outsourced to the local TRICARE network. Those who are interested and would like to check availability of primary care managers in the Shaw area can go online to the TRICARE website at, http://www.humana-military.com/south/bene/tools-resources/BeneSiteProvLoc.asp. Shaw and the 20th Medical Group provides an assortment of medical and dental services including family practice, pediatric care, limited gynecological services, immunizations, general dentistry, physical therapy, optometry, substance abuse counseling, and more, said Colonel Mosso. Other services not available through the 20th Medical Group will be provided through the TRICARE network. Although Shaw provides basic dental services to servicemembers, family members eligible through the TRICARE dental program will be outsourced to other dentistry offices within the local area. "We are continuing to work with our partners at Shaw and the 20th Medical Group as we prepare for the closure of Fort McPherson and move to Shaw," said Colonel Mosso. "We want this to be as smooth a transition as it can be. We understand that not everything will be easy going forward, but we're working hard to alleviate the headaches for the individuals and families making the move with ARCENT." As Fort McPherson moves forward in the preparation to closing the gates, the Joel Lawrence Clinic on post will also begin to scale back services. As of Nov. 16, Joel Lawrence is no longer accepting new enrollments for family members. Family members already enrolled at Joel Lawrence will continue to receive support until Oct. 1, 2010, when the clinic will become a troop medical clinic for active duty servicemembers only and family members will be referred through the Atlanta area TRICARE network of providers. Joel Lawrence TMC will close as of July 15, 2011, and those Soldiers who remain after the closure will be referred out to the Tricare network with additional deployment or readiness assistance available at Fort Gordon and Fort Benning, Ga.