The White Falcon - 07.01.1994, Side 5

hospital news
The world according to CHAMPUS
By Vanessa Burgess and HM1 Robert Whitten
W The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed
Services (CHAMPUS) is a medical benefits program which operates
on a cost share basis for necessary medical care from a civilian source.
It is intended for use by active duty dependents rtnd retirees to
supplement uniformed medical treatment facilities around the world,
including U. S. Naval Hospital Keflavfk.
The annual deductible is based on pay grade: $100 per family E-4
and below, $300 per family E-5 and above, including retirees. This
deductible is fiscal year based from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 of the next year.
The deductible must be paid before CHAMPUS makes any pay-
ments. Once the yearly deductible has been met, active duty family
members are required to pay 20 percent of the allowable charge for
the care provided. Retirees pay 25 percent of the allowable charge.
If the charge for the care exceeds the CHAMPUS allowable charge,
the member is also responsible for this cost
In Iceland, CHAMPUS is used if you are referred to a civilian
doctor by your military health care provider for services not available
or that exceed the hospital’s capabilities. In such cases, your military
health care provider will give you a civilian referral form to take to
your health benefits advisor (HBA), who will notify you if you’re
being referred under CHAMPUS. Doctor appointments will be made
at medical facilities in either Keflavfk or Reykjavik.
After treatment, the civilian provider will forward a bill to the
health benefits advisor, who will then notify you of your cost share
and deductible amounts. Once a CHAMPUS form has been com-
pleted, the HBA will mail your claim, which may take six to eight
weeks to process. The overseas CHAMPUS office in Germany will
send an explanation of benefits statement, which must be taken to the
Hospital HBA in order to close your file.
Using CHAMPUS is easy. Your health benefits advisor will assist
you through the process and is here to help. If you have any questions
concerning CHAMPUS or any of your health benefits, call the HBA
at ext 3229 or the patient affairs officer at ext. 3216.
lyte bytes
A new year and something extra
By Chaplain Dan Powell
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When I was a lad, I loved to watch movies
related to life in the “roaring twenties.” It
I delightful to see the women do the Char-
ton and the men wear those wide lapel
Suits and broad rim hats. It was interesting to
witness Model-T Fords sputtering through
town and over country.
I can remember one rather insignificant
character in so many of those films of a
generation before me. This character would
appear for only a few seconds, but in that
brief period of time, he caught everyone’s
attention. He was the newspaper boy who
stood on a busy street comer shouting to
passersby, “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!”
He offered people, as they went by him,
something more than a time schedule or a
shove on a crowded avenue. He was bringing
news that something had happened and would
be of interest to them. Selling papers? Yes,
but the newspaper boy was doing much more
than that In the midst of rushing lives, he was
inviting people to “awareness.” He was chal-
lenging them to be a part of what was happen-
ing. He was calling diem to life in the present
- in the “now.”
I do not pretend to know just what every
individual needs. I do believe, however, as
we start a new year, it would be helpful for
someone to stand at the street comer of our
lives and shout, “Extra! Extra!” We need the
awareness that invites us to participate in life
here and now. It is not a monastic, ordered
and secluded life God calls us to. Rather,
God wants for us to live a celebrative life
which bumps up against and appreciates even
those most ordinary of human daily experi-
ences. The love that came down at Christmas
leads us from Bethlehem back to the place
where we live. As we return from our visit
with the Christ-child, we return with “some-
thing extra” for a fresh new year of life. None
of us needs to start this year without fully
knowing that, really and truly, “God so loved
the world that he gave his only Son.” That “so
loved the world” is big enough to include you
and me at all times and places in our lives.
And, if we have anything in our favor, it is
that we do have the love of the Father with us.
I wish for each of you in this new year the
relationship with God that brings a constant
sense of value of who you are and also the
challenge from God that leads you to care for
all those you know and meet Ms. Jo Anne
Dyson says it so beautifully. Ishareherpoem
with you and make it my hope for you in
1994:
I do not wish you joy without sorrow,
Nor endless day without the healing dark,
Nor brilliant sun without the testful shadow,
Nor tides that never turn against your back.
I wish you love,
And strength.
And faith.
And wisdom,
Goods,
Gold enough to help some needy one.
I wish you songs and dance
But also blessed silence,
And God’s sweet peace,
When every day is done.
Did you know?
The much talked about Rush Lim-
baugh radio show began airing this past
week at NAS Keflavfk. After months of
negotiations, AFRTS recently agreed to
turn the first hour of the three hour pro-
gram. Listeners can hear the show
weeknights on AM 1530 at 6 p.m.
Black History
Month contest
earns $$$
The theme of this year’s Black History Month
essay contest is “Empowering African-American
Youth.”
All NAS Keflavfk base residents are eligible to
enter the contest Entries can be in poem, rap or short
story form as well as essay format
Entries may be dropped off at the Project Player
office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon. through Fri.
until Jan. 31. Fnst and second place finishers will be
awarded prizes. For more information, call Petty
Officer Ballint at ext 7688.
January 7,1994
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