Health Care

U.S. Army Medical Department Activity
The mission of the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC) is to provide integrated, quality health care and medical readiness support that is responsive to the needs of the 10th Mountain Division (LI) and the Fort Drum community.

MEDDAC is comprised of many different sections located in various buildings throughout Fort Drum and supports approximately 42,000 beneficiaries.

Primary medical care for active duty Soldiers is provided at the Conner Troop Medical Clinic (CTMC). The CTMC Optometry clinic provides primary and secondary eye care for all Soldiers.

Primary and specialty care is available at Guthrie Ambulatory Health Care Clinic, Bldg. P-11050 on Mt. Belvedere Boulevard, to Family members, retirees, and a small number of active duty beneficiaries.

Guthrie clinic offers a wide variety of outpatient services to include a family medicine clinic, urgent care clinic, ambulance services, and specialty clinic (that includes Podiatry, Orthopedics, Immunizations, Dermatology, Chiropractic, and Physical Therapy), pharmacy, and health care finder service. The Composite Health Care System is an advanced health care information system in place to support clinic activities. Other specialty care includes the Fort Drum Obstetrics/Gynecology Clinic located in Watertown and the Behavioral Health Department located on south post.

The Preventive Medicine department, located at Clark Hall and on south post, provides overall management of the preventive medicine service, which includes Army Public Health Nursing, Occupational Health, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene and Force Health Protection.

The Behavioral Health Department, located in the Wilcox Clinic, Bldg. P-36 on south post, includes Community Behavioral Health Services (comprised of Psychiatry and Psychology), Social Work Services (comprised of Family Advocacy Section & Clinical Social Work Section), and the Army Substance Abuse Program. These services work in conjunction with Fort Drum programs such as Army Community Services, Divisional Behavioral Health assets, Installation Chaplaincy and the Suicide Prevention Program to provide mental health evaluation and treatment to Soldiers, Family members, retirees, and civil service employees. In addition, MEDDAC has partnered with Samaritan and TRICARE to establish a Behavioral Health Clinic off post to meet unmet active duty demand for services.

The 3-85 Mountain Infantry (Warrior Transition Unit) is also assigned to MEDDAC. This unit provides command and control, administrative support and services, quality primary care and case management services for Soldiers qualifying for Warriors in Transition (IAW AR 40-400); synchronizing clinical care, disposition and transition; and promoting readiness to return to the Army or transition to civilian life.

On a daily basis, MEDDAC typically fills 1,375 prescriptions, takes 167 x-rays, processes 736 lab specimens, and has 1,248 clinic visits. MEDDAC and 3-85 staff of approximately 790 military, civilian, and contract personnel all work together to support the organization's mission.

Soldiers and Families assigned to the division and post will directly benefit from several current and planned construction projects. MEDDAC has assembled more than $80 million in health facility improvements. Projects include Guthrie Clinic addition and alterations; a battalion headquarters and barracks facility for the 3-85 Mountain Infantry (WTU); two pre-engineered buildings; a short-term alternative child care facility, and Urgent Care Clinic renovations now completed and occupied.

Health care delivery at Fort Drum is unique. Although MEDDAC supports a division, it has no in-patient capability. Therefore, local civilian hospitals provide most of MEDDAC's inpatient needs.

MEDDAC has strong partnerships with North Country health care: Health care providers in off-post communities, the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, Syracuse medical facilities, and the TRICARE provider network.

To be eligible for care at all MEDDAC facilities, beneficiaries must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and present a valid military ID card when signing into the clinic.

TRICARE is the Department of Defense managed health care program for active duty military and their Families, retirees and their Families, and other beneficiaries. As part of the regional TRICARE contract, the managed care support contractor is responsible for coordinating health care services off post, as well as maintaining the civilian provider network within the community by establishing contracts with local health care providers and facilities.

Health Care Options
TRICARE Prime
Active duty military members are required to enroll into Prime and have the highest priority for care. All Prime enrollees take priority over those patients not enrolled in the program, who are seen on a space-available basis only. TRICARE customer-service representatives and MEDDAC personnel located at the Patient Service Center in Guthrie Ambulatory Health Care Clinic can assist with all TRICARE issues. The Patient Service Center is located in Bldg. P-11050 and open Mon-Fri, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

TRICARE Standard
This option pays a share of the cost of covered health care services that a patient obtains from an authorized civilian health care provider. There is no enrollment in TRICARE Standard. People pay the normal TRICARE Standard deductibles for outpatient care and the costsharing percentages.

TRICARE Extra
With this option, patients don't have to enroll or pay an annual fee. They do have to satisfy an annual deductible for outpatient care, just as under TRICARE Standard. On a visit-by-visit basis, patients seek care from a provider who is part of the TRICARE Extra network, get a discount on services, and have reduced cost shares—five percent less than under TRICARE Standard. Also, the patient doesn't generally have to fill out claims forms. Patients can obtain a list of TRICARE Extra providers by visiting the TRICARE Service Center at Guthrie Clinic or accessing the Health Net Federal Services website at https:// www.hnfs.net/bene/home.

DEERS
Military personnel are enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) when they enter active duty. However, to enroll Family members there must be legal documentation presented. Active duty personnel can update the status of Family members by presenting such legal documents as marriage certificates, birth certificates or adoption papers at the local DEERS office located in Clark Hall. If this is not done, Family members may be denied health benefits, other than emergency care. Enroll newborns on DEERS as soon as possible after birth. For more information, call (315) 772-5149.

Check DEERS data yearly at any ID card center to ensure information is up to date. Children are eligible to receive an ID card at age 10. Unmarried children attending an accredited educational institution on a full-time basis are eligible to retain an ID card until the age of 23.  read more...

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