Specific to these DoD policies, non-covered reproductive health care is inclusive of non-covered abortion and lawfully available assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as in vitro fertilization, intra-uterine insemination or cryopreservation (freezing) of eggs or sperm.

The new DoD policies were written to ensure Service members and their dependents have equitable access to reproductive health care regardless of where they are stationed. To implement the DoD policy, DAF policy, AFGM 2022-01 to AFI 44-102, Medical Care Management, 13 July 2022, removed pregnancy language from the medical profile, allowing Airmen / Guardians to be assessed for necessary duty and mobility restrictions, while not notifying commanders of a pregnancy diagnosis (except in situations where risk to mission or pregnancy necessitates commander notification).

In addition, DoD policy authorizes Service members up to 21 days of an administrative absence to receive or accompany a dependent seeking a non-covered reproductive health care procedure. DAFGM 2023-02 to AFI 36-3003, Military Leave, was updated 23 Feb 2023 and added Table 3.6, Rule 25 for non-covered reproductive health care Commanders may authorize administrative absence days for both male and female Service members, whether or not it is available within the local area of their duty location. Administrative absence days are non-chargeable leave.

Finally, the DoD policy on travel funding authorizes Service members or their dependents travel and transportation allowances for a non-covered reproductive health care procedure. If a member receives funded travel, then administrative absence is not authorized. Therefore, the Service member will determine if they prefer to request travel on TDY orders or request an administrative absence.

Air Reserve Component members must be on active duty orders for 30 or more consecutive days to be eligible.

Non-covered reproductive health care are those procedures that TRICARE does not reimburse or “cover”. TRICARE currently does not cover any costs related to donors or semen banks, reversal of tubal ligation or vasectomy, care for erectile dysfunction from psychological causes, and non-coital reproductive procedures, services, or supplies (such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine inseminations (IUIs) or other assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Additionally, TRICARE will not cover an abortion, unless the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term.

Based on the new DAF pregnancy profiling methods, commanders are notified of a medical condition leading to duty and mobility restrictions, but are not notified of the diagnosis of pregnancy. There are occasions when notifications will need to occur such as for the purpose of a deployment, when risks to the mission or the pregnancy require notification, or if the member is requesting an administrative absence or travel and transportation allowances. A Service member who believes they are pregnant should confirm the pregnancy as soon as possible through a health care provider to receive proper prenatal care and occupational health counseling.

Based on the new pregnancy profiling system in the DAF, there is NO automatic notification of pregnancy to commanders. Pregnant Airmen / Guardians will validate pregnancy in the military treatment facility and seek prenatal care from an obstetrics provider. Either the obstetrics provider or their primary care manager (PCM) will initiate a pregnancy profile (469). Public health will still be notified to initiate the Fetal Protection Program and ensure there are no significant duty related risks for the pregnant member or the fetus. Any modifications to the profile will be made in accordance with public health recommendations. This occurs without command notification of pregnancy. Once complete, the commander will receive a general medical profile indicating specified duty limitations.

With the new pregnancy profile template, the diagnosis of pregnancy has been removed as have all references to pregnancy.   Assignment Availability Code (AAC) and Deployment Availability (DAV) codes (which no longer appear on the profile) are listed as “MEDICAL”. This system allows the communication of duty and mobility limitations of the pregnant member to the commander without disclosing the diagnosis of pregnancy.

The DAF has removed any references to “pregnancy” from the medical profile form (469). The new profiling system allows Airmen and Guardians to communicate medically necessary duty and mobility restrictions with their command without specifically disclosing pregnancy. Additionally, commanders have been further educated regarding the importance and expectation of maintaining privacy regarding Service member sensitive information such as medical diagnoses. This does not prohibit the Service member from voluntarily disclosing their pregnancy.

The new profiling system allows Airmen and Guardians to communicate medically necessary duty and mobility restrictions with their command without specifically disclosing pregnancy. Upon seeking pregnancy care and validating the pregnancy at the military treatment facility Public Health will be notified to initiate the Fetal Protection Program. If any specific duty related risks are identified the member’s profile will be updated to reflect these.

Service members may be granted an administrative absence (non-chargeable leave) for a period of up to 21 days per request to receive or to accompany a dual-military spouse or a dependent who receives non-covered reproductive health care.

No, a Service member cannot be in a dual status. Service members will have to determine whether to request one or the other based on their individual circumstances.

Covered Service members apply using LeaveWeb or a hardcopy AF Form 988 for ARC personnel who does not have access to LeaveWeb. The updated Permissive TDY rule is available in LeaveWeb effective 19 January 23.

Service members utilizing LeaveWeb will request the leave by selecting (T) Permissive on the ‘type’ drop-down menu, then choosing Rule 25. (DAFGM2023-02 Table 3.6). Note: It is important to select the correct rule to provide accurate utilization reports when requested.

Travel and transportation allowances are authorized for non-covered reproductive health care services when timely access to non-covered reproductive health care services is not available within the local area of the member’s Permanent Duty Station, TDY location, or the last location the dependent was transported on Government orders.

Non-Covered reproductive health care procedures are at the expense of the service member and not funded through TRICARE or the Military Health System. The DoD policy allows for unit funded travel and non-chargeable leave. The period of absence will be limited to the minimum number of days necessary to receive the required care and travel needed to access the care by the most expeditious means of transportation practicable.

For Service members, standard travel and transportation allowances are covered. For dependents, Invitational Travel Orders will need to be generated.

An eligible dependent may be authorized the following:

1. The actual cost of lodging (including tax, tips, and service charges) limited to the lodging portion of the locality per diem rate at the non-covered reproductive health care service care location.
2. The actual cost of meals (including taxes and tips, but excluding alcoholic beverages) and incidental expenses, limited to the maximum meal rate and incidental expenses (M&IE) portion of the locality per diem rate at the non-covered reproductive health care service care location.
3. Round-trip transportation between the member’s PDS or the last location the dependent was transported on Government orders and the non-covered reproductive health care service care location.

Yes, for Service members, this travel would be treated as a routine travel order. For dependents, an Invitational Travel Order would need to be generated.

Eligible Services members include Reserve or National Guard members when on active duty orders for 30 or more consecutive days. Title 10 (stat tour) and AGRs (title 32) Service members have access to use LeaveWeb to request administrative absence leave. ANG service members who are on temp-AGR and ADOS (title 10 orders) who may not have access to LeaveWeb will use the Form 988 to submit a request for administrative absence.

Eligible Service members include Reserve or National Guard members when on active duty orders for 30 or more consecutive days.

Commanders will protect the privacy of health information they receive. Health information will be restricted to personnel (e.g. supervisor / commander) with a specific need to know with access to the information being necessary for the conduct of their official duties. All personnel shall be accountable for safeguarding this health information consistent with existing law and Departmental policy.

In making any mandatory disclosure, the DoD health care provider will provide the minimum amount of information necessary to satisfy the purpose of the disclosure, in accordance with DoD Manual (DoDM) 6025.18, "Implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule in DoD Health Care Programs."