Supporting the Relocation, Travel, and Lifestyle Needs of the American Military Family

The Fort Knox Medical Department Activity, MEDDAC is comprised of Ireland Army Hospital, three outlying Army Health clinics, Nelson Troop Medical Clinic, Camp Memorial Blood Center, and a Preventive Medicine Service and Optical Fabrication Lab.  Ireland is a full service general medical and surgical hospital fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  

Active duty personnel are required to inprocess through the TRICARE Service Center to be assigned a Primary Care Manager.  Family members are encouraged to enroll into military treatment facility TRICARE Prime offering.  Information on availability of Primary Care Managers is available in the TRICARE Service Center.  It is important that family members enroll as soon as possible after arriving on the installation to ensure prompt non-emergency medical services.

MEDDAC:

It serves active duty and retired members (on a space available basis) of the uniformed services, their family members and the family members of deceased service members.  It also treats civilians in emergency situations when it is the closest hospital.  All patients must present an identification card.  Children over 10 years of age must present their ID card even when accompanied by a parent with identification.  Additionally, patients must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting Systems (DEERS). Service members must enroll their families in DEERS through their unit Personnel Administration Center or during in-processing at One Stop.  TRICARE has been implemented here.  It is important for newly arrived soldiers to go to the hospital and speak with the Tricare representative as soon as possible in order to have medical care procedures properly arranged.  This may not be the first agency listed on your inprocessing sheet, but you should do this at once.  This is the TRICARE Heartland Region.  Luckily, your TRICARE Prime enrollment moves with you.  Transferring your TRICARE Prime enrollment to the TRICARE Heartland Region is easy, but there are a few important guidelines you should follow.

     1.  If you plan to continue your TRICARE Prime enrollment in the TRICARE Heartland Region, DO NOT disenroll from your original region.
     2.  Once you move to the TRICARE Heartland Region, visit the TRICARE Service Center or call 1-800-941-4501 to request a TRICARE Information Packet.  You will receive a packet of TRICARE materials along with a TRICARE Heartland Enrollment Application.
     3.  Attend a Newcomer Orientation (at Bldg 77 the 1st, 2nd and 3d Tues/Wed of each month) or a TRICARE Briefing (see first paragraph above.)  TRICARE representatives will be available to answer any questions as well as help you complete your TRICARE Enrollment Application.
     4.  Complete the TRICARE Prime Enrollment Application and return it to the TRICARE Service Center or mail it to the TRICARE Heartland Region Operations Center, 333 West First Street, Suite 210, Dayton, OH 45402.  To avoid delays in processing your enrollment, make sure all information on the application is current and complete, mark the box "Transferring Enrollment from Another Region (Portability)," and remember to choose a Primary Care Manager in the TRICARE Heartland Region.
     5.  Your TRICARE Prime enrollment in the TRICARE Heartland Region is effective on the date Anthem Alliance receives your application (not necessarily on the date your sign the application).

If you need care while your enrollment is being transferred, call 1-800-941-4501 to make your appointment.  Emergency care requires no prior authorization.  If you or a family member needs emergency care, go to the nearest emergency care center for treatment.

In Kentucky, a minor is any person under the age of 18.  A minor can receive routine medical care only with the consent of the parent or legal guardian.  Emergency care may be given without parental consent only if there is the threat of loss of life, limb or eyesight.

State law permits minors to receive treatment for family planning purposes, venereal disease, alcohol and drug abuse, and pregnancy without parental consent.

The Community Health Nurse provides comprehensive care and follow-up nursing service for beneficiaries.  Services provided include home visits on and off post, chronic disease and tuberculosis prevention, health and troop education, health risk appraisals, and follow-up on selected communicable diseases.  Community Health Nursing is also involved with the Persian Gulf Illness program, the Childhood Lead Poisoning Program, hospital discharge planning, and serve as health consultants to the Child Development Services Program.  Community HIV education and support services for HIV positive individuals are also available through this program.

Fort Knox has the Army's largest blood center, Camp Memorial Blood Center, that collects and processes donated blood to support Army medical activities worldwide.  No appointment is necessary to donate.  See MEDICAL SERVICES DIRECTORY.

ELDERLY/SKILLED CARE:  If you are responsible for the care of an elderly or ill family member, there are five nursing homes in Hardin County.  Some have skilled care.  There may be a waiting list.  For additional information, contact Army Community Service,
(502) 624-6291/8391.

DENTAL:

There are three dental clinics on post.  Active duty military are provided a full range of dental services.  Family members are encouraged to enroll in the Family Member Dental Insurance Plan (now through United Concordia Companies, Inc.). Very limited care on a space available basis is offered to them on post.  Retired members are eligible for emergency and space-available dental care on post.  Note that "space available" means you will probably not receive care.  Anyone applying for dental care must present a valid ID card.  Family members age 10 and under will receive available care when their parent or guardian's card is shown.  Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.  There is no printed list of dentists in the local area who participate in the Family Member Dental Plan, however, there are many.  When you call and inquire, make sure you ask if they "participate" rather than "accept" the plan.  That means they will not charge over the scheduled payment.  If the dentist only "accepts" the dental plan, they may charge over the scheduled payment and the patient will be responsible for paying the difference.  Ask for a copy of the United Concordia TRICARE Family Member Dental Plan Benefit Booklet from your dental clinic, unit, or Army Community Service for a full explanation of benefits and procedures.