ALCOAST 055/09
COMDTNOTE 6120
SUBJ: PERIODIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT (PHA) UPDATE - WHAT TO EXPECT
A. COAST GUARD PERIODIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT, COMDTINST 6150.3(SERIES)
1. THIS MESSAGE PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND CLARIFICATION
OF THE ANNUAL PHA. CURRENTLY, ALL COAST GUARD CLINICS SHOULD BE
PERFORMING PHAS FOR ASSIGNED COAST GUARD MEMBERS DURING THEIR BIRTH
MONTH PERIOD. THE BIRTH MONTH PERIOD IS DEFINED AS THE ACTUAL MONTH
OF BIRTH AND THE PRECEDING TWO MONTHS. ADDITIONALLY, TWO DISTRICTS
(9TH AND 17TH) BEGAN PILOT TESTING THE PHA USING THE RESERVE HEALTH
READINESS PROGRAM (RHRP) CONTRACT FOR MEMBERS ASSIGNED TO DOD OR
CIVILIAN PROVIDERS FOR THEIR MEDICAL CARE.
2. ALTHOUGH THE PHA HAS REPLACED THE ROUTINE 5-YEAR PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION, IT IS NOT AN ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION. THE PHA IS A PREVENTIVE HEALTH SCREENING AND MEDICAL
READINESS REVIEW. AT A MINIMUM, A MEMBER SHOULD EXPECT THE
FOLLOWING:
A. REVIEW OF THEIR FLEET HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT (HRA) AND
DISCUSSION OF THE MEMBER'S GENERAL HEALTH STATUS AND HEALTH RISK
BEHAVIORS (E.G. SMOKING, LACK OF EXERCISE, ETC.).
B. BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK.
C. VISION SCREENING.
D. REVIEW OF ANY HEALTH CONCERNS.
E. ADDITIONAL SERVICES MAY INCLUDE UPDATING A MEMBER'S MEDICAL
READINESS (E.G. HIV TEST, IMMUNIZATIONS, ETC.) AND ADDRESSING AGE
AND GENDER SPECIFIC CLINICAL PREVENTIVE SERVICES REQUIREMENTS (E.G.
CHOLESTEROL TEST, PAP SMEAR, ETC.).
F. IF A MEMBER IS HEALTHY, AND HAS NO READINESS OR CLINICAL
PREVENTIVE SERVICE NEEDS, THEIR PHA VISIT WILL BE BRIEF.
G. AD AND SELRES MEMBERS WHO RECEIVE THE PHA VIA THE RHRP
CONTRACTORS WILL BE REFERRED BACK TO THEIR TRICARE PRIMARY CARE
MANAGER (PCM) FOR ANY NECESSARY FOLLOW-UP. ONCE A MEMBER MAKES A
PHA APPOINTMENT VIA THE TOLL-FREE RHRP PHA CALL CENTER
(1-800-666-2833), THEY MUST SHOW UP FOR THAT APPOINTMENT. THE COAST
GUARD INCURS A SIGNIFICANT COST (UNDER THE CONTRACT) FOR NO SHOWS.
MEMBERS WHO ARE MARKED AS A NO SHOW WILL BE NOTIFIED, AS WILL
THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND.
3. MEMBERS USING THE RHRP PHA CALL CENTER CANNOT NEGOTIATE WITH THE
CONTRACTORS REGARDING THE PROVIDERS ASSIGNED TO THEM. THE MEMBER
CANNOT USE THEIR TRICARE PRIME REMOTE PCM NOR USE A MILITARY
TREATMENT FACILITY FOR THEIR PHAS (EXCEPTIONS GRANTED ON A CASE-BY-
CASE BASIS).
4. MEMBERS CAN FIND OUT ABOUT AGE AND GENDER SPECIFIC CLINICAL
PREVENTIVE SERVICES REQUIREMENTS AT THE COAST GUARD OPERATIONAL
MEDICINE WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/CG1/CG112/CG1121. CLICK
ON "PERIODIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT (PHA)" THEN CLICK "CIM 6150 3C" ON
THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WEBSITE AND REVIEW ENCLOSURE 3.
5. MEMBERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE PHA PROCESS CAN COMPLETE AN
ANONYMOUS PHA SATISFACTION SURVEY LOCATED AT
HTTP://WEBAPPS.MLCA.USCG.MIL/DYNAMICSURVEY. CLICK ON "TAKE A
SURVEY". ON THE NEXT PAGE, SELECT "PHA SATISFACTION SURVEY".
6. FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING RHRP CONTRACT ISSUES CONTACT
COMDT(CG-1121), CDR ERICA SCHWARTZ AT ERICA.G.SCHWARTZ(AT)USCG.MIL
OR (202)475-5172. FOR ALL OTHER PHA RELATED QUESTIONS CONTACT
MLC(K)LANT, LT TIM KULZER BY EMAIL AT TIMOTHY.J.KULZER(AT)USCG.MIL
OR (757)628-4362 OR MLC(K)PAC, LT AARON FULCHER AT
AARON.E.FULCHER(AT)USCG.MIL OR (510)637-1214. FOR RESERVE SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS CONTACT LT RICHARD LAVIGNE AT RICHARD.J.LAVIGNE2(AT)
USCG.MIL OR (202)475-5449.
7. RADM MARK J. TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE
SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.