End of Calendar Year Corps Updates and Reminders

Greetings IHS Corps Officers,

Here are some reminders and updates as you wrap up 2019.

1. Awards: A total of 315 awards were processed and submitted to CCHQ by the November 1, 2019 deadline for promotion board review.  All awards submitted by the deadline will be processed and placed into your PIR/eOPF prior to the meeting of the promotion board. If you have questions, please contact your Area Awards Coordinator. CCHQ is manually processing all awards and is unable to provide updates.
2. Promotions Preparedness: Please ensure all promotion documents are submitted before December 31, 2019, allowing time in case there are IT issues. Please see the promotions checklist at the following link to ensure all required documentation is submitted on time.
   1. Want tips to take one last look at your promotion readiness or want to prepare for the future? Please view “Preparing Promotion Success” by CAPT Mtungwa, Director, Division of Commissioned Personnel Support (https://youtu.be/DCqIv0i1z94)
3. COERS: Ensure that your Reviewing official has completed their portion of the COER and that it is submitted to your liaison. DCPS has until December 31, 2019 to submit COERs to Commissioned Corps Headquarters (CCHQ). Refer to the 2019 COER Instructions for guidance on COER processing.
4. Readiness: Readiness must be continually maintained. Review your readiness information each month on your Officer Dashboard within the Secure Area. Readiness updates will be emailed to you and your supervisor monthly. Ensure that you have updated your supervisory information within the RedDOG Self Service Area no later than December 30, 2019 to ensure that you and your supervisor are receiving this timely information.
5. Medical Affairs-POM 821.71 Physical Exam Requirements: Instead of a 5 year physical, we are now required to do an annual periodic health update (PHU).  The PHU includes a Behavioral Health Survey to help identify signs of possible alcohol abuse, depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.  The PHU is structured to provide CCHQ with more updated, relevant medical information to ensure the medical readiness of Corps officers.
   1. Beginning in January, 2020, the PHU will be due during your birth month.  Be aware:  there are nuances on when your first PHU is due (particularly if your 5 year physical was done in 2019 or prior to Jan 1, 2016).  The FAQs can help you to determine when your PHU will be due. MAKE NOTE OF WHEN YOUR PHU WILL BE DUE and plan your medical appointments accordingly.  Compliance will be tied to your readiness status!
   2. A complete PHU consists of 5 documents: DD-2807 Report of Medical History, DD-2808 Report of Medical Examination (including any additional screening tests required by your provider), PHS-7083 Behavioral Health Survey, DD-2813 DOD Active Duty Dental Examination, and a Disclosure Form. All forms and instructions on completing them can be found here.
   3. Officers should complete the Report of Medical History and Behavioral Health Survey as close to but prior to the time of the PHU visit.  The officer bring all of required documents and associated PHU Provider Instructions with them to their provider visit(s).
   4. What do you do with your completed PHU?  Scan all documents and test results into a SINGLE PDF and submit them using the medical section of eDOC-U with the document name, “Periodic Health Update.”
   5. Officers who are retiring/separating are still encouraged to complete the more thorough retirement/separation exams and schedule them to allow sufficient time for results to be received prior to their last day on active duty.
6. Other notable items in the Medical Readiness policy (CCI 221.02) include:
   1. Elimination of the PPD (LTBI) for active duty officers (some exceptions related to deployments or high risk area) – applicants/SRCOSTEP will still be tested .
   2. Clarification that compliance with the annual flu shot is determined on Dec 31 each year and NOT the anniversary date of the last flu shot received (e.g., if your 2018 flu shot was received on 11/19/18, you will not be found out of compliance unless you do not receive, enter, and upload the 2019 flu shot before 12/31/19.
   3. Clarifications on when the Corps will grant a medical waiver.
7. Long-Term Training (LTT):  LTT is all units or courses in a planned educational program leading to the completion of an academic program, whether taken full time, part-time, continuously or intermittently. It includes internships or residencies which is greater than the following: 30 consecutive days, more than 90 days in a fiscal year (FY), part-time training that exceeds 70 hours in attendance in a 30 day period or more than 210 hours in attendance in a FY. Extramural Training is training received from institutions outside of the USPHS. Intramural Training is training received at institutions within the USPHS.
   1. All completed packages must be submitted to Commissioned Corps Headquarters (CCHQ) Assignments Team no later than March 31st of each year for all HHS supported training that will begin July 1 or later each year.
   2. Steps to complete a LTT Package:

1. Consult with your supervisor to discuss the training and desired objectives well in advance of the deadlines for submission.
2. Contact your regional Corps Liaison who will assist you in determining what the required forms are and help guide you through the application process.

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a prosperous 2020!

V/r,

CDR Michael Verdugo

Deputy Director, Division of Commissioned Personnel Support

Office of Human Resources

Indian Health Service HQ

5600 Fishers Lane

Mail Stop 11E86

Rockville, MD 20857

Tel: 301.443.4974

Cell: 240.475.1332