PROGRAM & BUDGET

The Program & Budget officer for the SRMC is responsible for formulation, distribution, execution & monitoring of 10 Military Treatment Facilities Annual Operating Budgets and RMC HQ Account. The operating budget for the Regional Medical Command provides funding for a wide range of clinical services and medical education, medical equipment and supplies, installation support including BASOPS reimbursement, minor and major repair and construction. Counter Narcotics and Family Advocacy Program and specialized programs, such as the Breast Cancer Awareness and the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluations Program funds. These come from a variety of funding streams including various congressional appropriations, transfer payments from civilian contractors and the Navy and Air Force, and Third Party Collections from insurance companies.

The Program and Budget office establishes accounting and control procedures to accommodate maintenance of financial data, management of contract funds and reporting to higher headquarters. Information is examined and consolidated in accordance with MEDCOM directives.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Budget Formulation & Submission Requirements: The RMC Program and Budget Officer provides guidance, direction and oversight of subordinate MTFs on all phases of budget formulation. SRMC program specialists are consulted to identify variances with command initiatives, DOD/DA mandated programs and MTF specific health care objectives. MTF input is examined for compliance with requirements and policy directives and validated to ensure adequacy and appropriateness of budget submissions. This compiled budget data from the MTFs is used to assess regional funding for various line items and special programs. Evaluations are made to compare spending patterns against budget projections, program execution and funding requirements examined to ensure regional balance and support for broad-based initiatives.

• Monthly Reports/Resource Summaries: The SRMC coordinates monthly "Status of Funds", flash reports and Command-approved regional initiatives for all MTFs in the region.  Based on these periodic reviews, technical program & budget guidance is provided to the MTFs.  Regional resource summaries track and reconcile actual funding distributions, authorization and reprogramming actions within each MTF and among regional MTFs.   Click Here to Login.  This continual monitoring of fiscal documentation allows for analysis of MTF budget execution & reprogramming of funds as required.

• Policies and Procedures: The Program & Budget Officer provides guidance and direction to subordinate MTFs. Budget policy and requirements from higher headquarters are evaluated for regional application. These regional policies and procedures must be consistent with Congressional mandates and requirements imposed by the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs (ASD HA) and MEDCOM. Assistance is provided to ensure adequate and appropriate funding for new and ongoing programs. The RMC advises on a wide range of issues affecting short and long range budget planning such as uncertainties concerning the health care delivery systems in DOD, cost shifting for base operations support, impact of national legislation and changes in composition of the beneficiary population. Included are the care required, funding for application of advanced technologies and other advancements in medicine and other unscheduled and difficult to project requirements.

• Tricare Senior Prime: This region has fiscal oversight of three TRICARE Senior Prime sites. TRICARE Senior Prime is a managed care demonstration program designed to better serve the medical needs of enrolled military retirees, dependents, and survivors who are 65 years and over. This demonstration program is being offered at selected sites across the country, and provides a limited number of enrollees with all of the benefits available under Medicare, plus additional benefits under TRICARE Prime that are offered to other eligible retired military beneficiaries under age 65. The sites within this region offering TRICARE Senior Prime are:

Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX
Fort Sill, Lawton, OK
Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, CO

For more information on TRICARE Senior Prime, Click Here.  TRICARE for Life is a program that expands coverage to all 65 years old and over beneficiaries, effective 1 October 2001. Program specifics, to include the extent to which care will be provided via enrollment at a regional military medical treatment facility or as an adjunct to Medicare, are under development.

• Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management & Comptroller: The ASA(FM&C) mission is to provide timely and credible financial management information, guidance, products and services and foster stewardship and accountability in support of Army mission accomplishment. Key functions include preparing, justifying, defending and executing the Army budget and providing policy and management oversight of Army financial operations, systems and compliance. For more on ASA (FM&C), Click Here 

Travel

• Travel Policy: Attached is an excerpt from a SA-OPLOC publication. It contains good information for travelers on some frequently confusing travel policies.

• Per diem Travel Rates: Go to this site to calculate per diem rates for continental, overseas & OCONUS travel. Also, find information on contractor travel, Cost of Living Allowances or let GSA know if per diem rates for a particular site are not adequate.  Please visit this web site for info. 

• Army Lodging Success Program: The Lodging Success Program is mandatory for all Army active duty, reserve, national guard and civilian personnel on official travel orders within any designated LSP locality. Travel locations that are a part of LSP include Miami, FL; Atlanta, GA; Oahu, HI; Boston, MA; San Juan, PR; San Antonio, TX; Hampton/Newport News, VA and National Capital Region. To view rates, recently added localities or for more information on this program, go to Army Lodging Success Program web site.

• Mileage Calculations: The Defense Table of Official Distances (DTOD) is an automated capability used by the Department of Defense (DoD) as its official source of worldwide distance information (in miles and kilometers) for all household goods, freight, and travel needs. DTOD supports travel and transportation for the Continental United States (CONUS), Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and areas Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS) in which DoD operates. Go to DTOD web site and click on GET DISTANCE. A User ID and password have been established for SRMC or you may choose to establish your own account.   To find the SRMC users login user ID and Password, Click here

If you have any problem getting into the account, either call the Customer Assistance number 1-800-331-7348.

Training

• Military Training Specific Allotment: MTSA funds are to be used to fund per diem and travel expenses incurred in conjunction with specific Army-directed training, such as OBC. For specific information on which courses will be funded with MTSA funds, please click here, and go to Resource Analysis and Business Practice (RABP), then to MTSA. Your Installation RMD is responsible for funding MTSA courses. Courses authorized for MTSA are fully managed on Army Training Requirements & Resources System (ATTRS).  ATRRS contains training requirements, class schedules, quota allocations and input and graduation information.