Is your child turning age 21 or graduating from college soon? Though they lose regular TRICARE coverage upon turning age 21 or age 23 if enrolled full time at an approved college, many young-adult children can continue to get medical and pharmacy benefits up until age 26 through TRICARE Young Adult (TYA).

Many active duty service members (ADSMs) may eventually retire from their branch of the uniformed services. If you’re an ADSM, are you prepared to make the transition to civilian life?

Having difficulty filing a pharmacy claim? Learn how to properly file your claims and visit https://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/Pharmacy/Claims for more information.

Lt. Gen. Ron Place, DHA Director, talks about the importance of speaking up against sexual assault and his zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual assault in DHA workplaces and our hospitals and clinics.

Robbin Cole, the CEO of Pawnee Mental Health Services, thought it was a bad idea, but said it anyway to a brainstorming group of community leaders from Manhattan, Junction City and Fort Riley, “why not pool together all mental health resources in the community into one location?”

Irwin Army Community Hospital is now offering COVID-19 second booster shots to the following individuals: • People ages 12+ who are moderately or severely immunocompromised at least 4 months after the first booster dose of Moderna or Pfizer. • Adults ages 50+ who are NOT immunocompromised at least 4 months after the first booster dose of Modern or Pfizer. • People ages 18 – 49 years who are NOT immunocompromised and received Janssen COVID-19 vaccine as both their primary series does and booster dose. COVID-19 boosters are available: Moderna Mondays, noon – 4:30 p.m.; Pfizer Fridays, noon – 4:30 p.m.; Pediatric COVID vaccine Wednesdays, 8 a.m. – noon. Patients can make an appointment for a booster through the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal or call (785) 239-DOCS. The immunization clinic is located on the 1st floor in the Primary Care Medical Homes.

IACH Updates: • IACH celebrates the first ever Health Information Professionals Week April 21, 11 a.m., on the second floor fireplace area with keynote speaker LTC Michael Crivello, Deputy Commander for Administration. Health information professionals see the person connected to the data, and work tirelessly to ensure their information stays human–because when information stays human, it stays relevant. Join us in person or watch the Facebook livestream as we celebrate those who ensure health stories remain accurate, accessible and protected. • IACH celebrates National Nurses Week starting May 6, 11 a.m., on the second floor fireplace area with keynote speaker COL Hyun Kang, Deputy Commander for Nursing & Patient Services. All are invited to share in the festivities honoring the contributions and sacrifices of our nurses. Watch the livestream ceremony if you can't attend in person. Remember to thank a nurse that week. https://fb.me/e/3eVLTLV4d • Get peace of mind. The IACH Lab offers walk-ins for sexually transmitted infection testing Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The lab tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV and Hep C for Active Duty and beneficiaries ages 16+. No appointment necessary. Results can be found on the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal. All positive results will receive a medical call for follow up treatment and education. Seek medical treatment if you are experiencing symptoms or had an unprotected known exposure. Go to the Emergency Department immediately if you know you were exposed to HIV. • Covered While on Vacation? TRICARE's got you covered when visiting friends and family several hundred miles away from Fort Riley but only if you go to an authorized urgent care center. Don't get stuck with an unpaid medical bill. Nick tells you what to do to keep your vacation experience free of complications. https://fb.watch/clrJ2IKkv-/ • Two Decades Toward Equanimity. Illness struck her father when she was 9. He changed his life toward recovery. She chose to stave off a hereditary illness. MAJ Adhana McCarthy, a physician assistant, tells the story of how yoga became her lifestyle at an early age. https://fb.watch/clskOi7aNy/

FORT RILEY, Kansas -- An elderly patient who worried about Parkinson’s disease came back to Irwin Army Community Hospital to see a pharmacist. Her tremors had ceased and she wanted to thank David Hatesohl who had suggested changing drugs. The shakings were due to a drug side effect, not the early stages of a progressive nervous system disorder.

Normalizing the use of internal condoms and dental dams begins with familiarity. A public health nurse discusses the advantages of these lesser-known methods of protection that are available at the Fort Riley Public Health Department.

Rebecca Dills shares her story of postpartum depression and anxiety in hopes of shedding light on a problem that no one should suffer alone. If you feel you might be suffering from postpartum depression, please call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). IACH beneficiaries can seek help from their PCM by calling (785) 239-DOCS (3627).

To all the nurses who have dedicated their professional lives to delivering healthcare at Irwin Army Community Hospital, Fort Riley,...thank you!

We've come a long way as a society to empower women and to own every part of themselves, including their sexuality. Yet there's still some work to be done. Many women still have reservations when it comes to actually buying condoms or even talking about using them with a partner. MAJ Kimberly Moore, a public health nurse, says there's no shame in women carrying condoms. Creative commons music by Scott Buckley.