Brandon Act aims to improve mental health support

ByDavidVergun NewsroomTricare.mil

Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, signed apolicyonMay5,2023toinitiateimplementation of the Brandon Act and improve the process for service members seeking mental healthsupport.

The Brandon Act aims at improving the referralprocessforservicemembersseeking amentalhealthevaluationandallowingthem toseekhelpconfidentially Cisnerossaid.

TheBrandonActisnamedafterNavyPetty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Caserta who died bysuicidein2018 Thelegislationwassigned into law by President Joe Biden on Dec 27, 2021, as part of the 2022 National Defense AuthorizationAct.

“Our greatest strength is our people, and we are committed to their well-being,” Cisneros said. “Therefore, I firmly believe that seeking mental health treatment is a sign of strength and resilience This policy spurred by the passage of the Brandon Act, is an important step in ensuring that our service members are able to seek mental health treatment when and how they need it. We honor Petty Officer Brandon Caserta’s memory by ensuring that our military services have procedures and processes in place that allow service members to seek help confidentially for any reason, at any time and in any environment, and aim to reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health care.

The Defense Department policy directs theservicestoestablishpolicy,assignresponsibilities,andprovideproceduresforservice members to request a referral for a mental health evaluation through a commanding officer or supervisor The process allows service members to seek help confidentially for any reason at any time and in any environment, thereby reducing the stigma associated with seeking mental health care, Cisneros said.

Implementation of the policy will occur in two phases In phase one, which should beimplementedwithin45days,theservices will establish procedures to implement the policyforservicemembersonactiveduty In phase two, the services will establish procedures to implement the policy for service members notservingon activeduty,he said.

LesterMartinez-Lopez,assistantsecretary of defense for health affairs, said the implementation of the Brandon Act is a welcome addition to the range of tools and resources available to support the mental health needs of the joint force He also noted that the Defense Health Agency is developing annual training to educate service members and supervisors on the process to initiate a request for a mental health evaluation

For the Brandon Act to have its intended impact, it’s important that commanding officers and supervisors are trained on the processtoexpeditementalhealthreferralsso that help is provided when it’s most needed,

ByTRICARECommunications

Whether you’re seeing the dentist for a routinecheckuporgettingemergencydental care, the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) covers a wide variety of dental services for active duty family members, as well as National Guard and Reserve members and their family members. If you see a network dentist, you’ll only have to pay a cost-share, or a percentage of the total cost of these services

“Whoyouare,whereyoulive,andthetype of service you need determines your costshare for covered services with a network dentist,”saidDougElsesser,programanalyst withtheDefenseHealthAgency’sTRICARE Dental Program. If you see a non-network dentistforservicesTDPcovers,youmaypay more out of pocket and need to file a claim forreimbursement.”

It’s important to know which services TDP covers before your next dental visit. Here’salookatsomeofthem.

Diagnosticservices

Theseareservicestomonitoryoufororal healthissues.TDPcovers:

„ Two exams in a consecutive 12-month period by the same provider and one additionalexambyadifferentprovider

„ Oneperiodontalevaluationinaconsecutive12-monthperiodperofficevisit

„ AnnualX-raysinaconsecutive12-month periodperofficevisit

There’snocost-sharefordiagnosticservices fromyourregulardentist.Ifyoureceiveadiagnosticconsultationbyanadditionaldentistor go to a dental office after regular hours, you mayhaveacost-shareof20%.

Preventiveservices

Theseareservicesthatprotectyourteeth and gums from decay and infection. The TDP covers two routine dental cleanings in a consecutive 12-month period for each enrollee Italsocoversathirddentalcleaning for pregnant enrollees andthose diagnosed withcertainchronicmedicalconditions To receivethisbenefit,youmustregisterinMy Account Other routine preventive services include:

„ Fluoridetreatments

„ Spacemaintainers(fullycoveredfor childrenundertheage19)

„ Spacemaintainercare

„ Sealants(fullycoveredforpermanent molars,orbackteeth,throughage18)

Martinez-Lopezsaid.Recognizingthesigns of mental health issues and knowing the availableresourcestoofferisalsokey,hesaid.

A range of mental health and wellness support is available to service members worldwide Inadditiontorequestingareferral for a mental health evaluation through their commanding officer or supervisor service members will continue to have the option to contact their local health care provider directly, Military Health System officials said.

Additional mental health resources includethe988VeteransCrisisLine,Military OneSource nonmedical counseling, and the 24/7PsychologicalHealthResourceCenter Formoreinformation,visithealth.mil/brandonact.

Brandon’s parents Teri and Patrick Caserta, said their son endured persistent hazing and bullying from members of his squadron when he reached out for help

“He was not taken seriously Brandon felt the only solution to his problem was to end his own life,” Patrick said.

“Ourson’sstoryistragicandsenseless,but we’repleasedthatCongresspassedtheBrandon Act. It allows for confidential reporting of mental health concerns and ensures resourcesareavailabletohelpthosewhoare struggling,” Teri Caserta said.

Supportservicememberswhoaskforhelp by letting them know it’s okay Refer them to a chaplain, counselor or medical professional, and give them the time they need, Patrick Caserta advised.

There’s no cost-share for preventive dentalcarewhenyouseeanetworkdentist

Restorativeservices

TDP covers many restorative services to repair broken or cracked teeth and to protect teeth against cavities As noted in the TRICARE Dental Program Handbook, youcangetcoverageforrestorativeservices needed because of tooth decay, tooth fracture,attrition,erosion,abrasion,orcongenital or developmental defects Cosmetic reasonsareexcluded.

Coveredservicesinclude:

„ Amalgam(silver)fillings

„ Resin-basedcomposite (tooth-colored)fillings

„ Crowns

„

Veneers(insomeinstances)

There’s no restorative cost-share for command-sponsored enrollees in the TDP OCONUSservicearea AllotherTDPenrolleeshaveacost-shareof20%

Otherservices

OtherTDPcoveredservicesinclude:

„ Periodontalservices

„ Orthodonticservices

„ Endodonticservices (includingrootcanals)

„ Oralsurgery

„ Implants

There are some services TDP doesn’t cover. Always talk to your dentist before getting any major dental procedures to makesureyouunderstandwhetherrecommended procedures are covered, and in whatamounts. TolearnmoreaboutservicesTDPcovers refer to the TRICARE Dental Program Handbook. You can also go to Benefits or log in to My Account to see a list of what’s covered.

LookingformoreTDPinfo,includingtips for oral health care? Check out the latest TRICARE Dental Program Health Matters Newsletter

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