Fitness for Duty Review

All specialty care requests are then referred from your regional contractor to your Service Point of Contact (SPOC).  The SPOC will review all requests and determine if your health care requires a fitness-for-duty determination.

• If the SPOC thinks that your condition may change your fitness-for-duty or that your condition requires a medical board, the SPOC will refer you to the closest military hospital or clinic that has the ability to provide the care and make a duty determination.
• If the SPOC thinks there is no impact on your fitness-for-duty, the SPOC will refer you to a civilian specialist for the care. As a rule, maternity care will be provided locally. The SPOC will provide an answer to your regional contractor within two working days of the request, or sooner for an urgent problem.
• Your commander also may request a military medical evaluation at his or her discretion.
• You may choose to obtain your specialty care in a military hospital or clinic at any time if that is your preference and your commander concurs.  Inform your regional contractor when coordinating your referral.
• You cannot refer yourself to a military or civilian specialist.  If you seek nonemergency care from other sources without first contacting your PCM, you may be held financially responsible for the entire bill for those health care services.

Active Duty Service Members

You must have pre-authorization for all specialty care. You also need a fitness-for-duty review for:

• Maternity care
• Physical therapy
• Mental health
• Family counseling
• Smoking cessation programs