The Reserve Health Readiness Program provides services to members of the National Guard or Reserve and to active duty service members enrolled in TRICARE Prime Remote, including medical readiness, dental readiness, and deployment services.
“The RHRP helps to ensure that all service members are ready for mobilization or deployment,” said U.S. Army Col. Eric Bullock, director of the RHRP Program Management Office. “We are making sure they are ready to go out with their units in order to project power.”
The RHRP serves about 400,000 service members annually, providing an estimated 3 million individual services.
Who does the RHRP support?
RHRP supports active duty service members enrolled in TRICARE Prime Remote who live and work more than 50 miles (or one hour’s drive time) from a military hospital or clinic. In addition, RHRP supports the following reserve components:
The program also covers post-deployment health reassessments for federal civilians of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command.
There are no out-of-pocket costs for authorized services when service members and federal civilians have an approved voucher for care.
RHRP Services
“The RHRP fills the gap when MTFs [military hospitals or clinics] are either not available, at capacity, or unable to provide the level of support that reserve components require for medical readiness and deployment related services,” said Mark Chin, DHA RHRP program manager.
The RHRP’s contract partner provides a network of civilian providers and facilities to support services including individual medical readiness, dental, deployment readiness, and physical exams (some occupational exams).
The service member, their unit leadership, or their service component can request these services.
“The RHRP gives these members the assessments they need in order to maintain their individual medical readiness,” said Bullock.
How to Access Services
There are three ways to get RHRP services:
- In-clinic appointments: Service members can get individual services by using the RHRP's network of civilian medical and dental providers. These providers are located within one hour of the service member's preferred location.
- Group events: These group events are held at unit armories or other medical facilities. Unit commanders can request this service.
- Call center: Mental health assessments, consultations, and periodic health assessments are available using the call center if a clinic isn’t available within a reasonable distance.
What is Individual Medical Readiness?
Maintaining one’s individual medical readiness is a continuous responsibility. It rests with the individual being supported and monitored through unit leadership. This ensures military personnel are mission ready and worldwide deployable. Members of the National Guard, Reserve, and active duty service members in remote locations face unique challenges, as military medical readiness and deployment-related requirements are sometimes not available in all civilian communities.
In addition to the periodic health assessments mentioned previously, the RHRP also offers:
- Separation History and Physical Examinations
- Immunizations
- Dental services
- Vision assessments
- Hearing assessments
- Post-deployment health assessments
- Physical exams
- Mental health assessments
- Laboratory services
- Deployment health readiness assessments
RHRP’s website has answers to questions concerning services provided and how to access RHRP services or contact information for help.
What Happens if a Service Member Fails an Assessment?
Service members may have an underlying health problem. This may cause them to fail an assessment.
“If something is found, a profile is started and the service member and service component are made aware,” said Chin. “If a service member requires a referral for something found during an assessment, it’s up to that member to follow up.”
Unless the condition is service connected, the reserve component service member will need to make their own arrangements for civilian follow-up. “If they’re eligible, this is a great opportunity to enroll in TRICARE Reserve SelectA premium-based plan for qualified Selected Reserve members and their families.TRICARE Reserve Select,” said Bullock.
“We have no authority to make a referral appointment for them,” said Chin. “It’s up to the service member and the unit commander to ensure things get accomplished.”
RHRP Changes Coming in March
In March 2023, the RHRP contract services will be assumed by a company called QTC.
During this time, RHRP’s focus remains on the readiness of reservists, guardsmen, and active duty service members.
“From a service member perspective, they will not see any changes in service,” said Chin. A new website and telephone number will be available on March 1.
Check back often for new information on the RHRP website.