S1NET Special Message – Travel and Transportation for Non-covered Reproductive Health Care, 27 Feb 23

N.Y. Army National Guard Sgt. Joseph Roth from 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation, gives cadets from the Siena College Reserve Officer Training Corps(ROTC) a safety brief on UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters before flying, in Latham N.Y., April 5, 2018. The 3-142nd was flying the ROTC cadets to Burlington, V.T. for their monthly training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Andrew Valenza)

1. At the request of the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (ASA M&RA), this special S1NET
Message is to help notify the field of Secretary of the Army
memorandum, Subject:  Travel and Transportation for Non-covered
Reproductive Health Care, dated 27 Feb 23 (attached at the following
link), which announces changes to the Joint Travel Regulation that allow
travel and transportation for non-covered reproductive health care.
Pursuant to JTR paragraph 033013, Soldiers of the Regular Army, Army
National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and U.S. Army
Reserve may be eligible for travel benefits as outlined to meet the
following DoD policy objectives: https://www.milsuite.mil/book/docs/DOC-1232521



     a. Soldiers will be able to access lawfully available non-covered
reproductive health care regardless of where they are stationed.



     b. Commanders and approval authorities have the responsibility to
meet operational requirements and protect the health and safety of those
in their care. Commanders will exercise objectivity, compassion, and
discretion when addressing all healthcare matters, including
reproductive healthcare matters, and have a duty to enforce existing
policies against discrimination and retaliation in the context of
reproductive healthcare choices.



     c. Consistent with existing law and Army policy, commanders and
approval authorities will protect the privacy of protected health
information they receive under this policy. Such healthcare information
will be restricted to personnel with a specific need to know. That is,
access to the information must be necessary for the conduct of official
duties. Personnel will also be accountable for safeguarding this
healthcare information consistent with existing law and Army policy.



     d. Soldiers will not be granted travel and transportation
allowances if their intention is to sell, to offer for sale, or to
receive proceeds from a sale resulting from an assisted reproductive
technology (ART) procedure.



2. Also provided with this post at the above link, are:



     a. Army Directive 2023-04, Command Notification of Pregnancy, 27
Feb 23.  This directive implements changes to Department of the Army
policy for command notification of pregnancy to ensure Soldiers have the
time and flexibility to make private healthcare decisions, commanders
can meet the responsibilities of operational requirements, and protected
health information is adequately safeguarded.



     b. Army Directive 2023-05, Administrative Absence for Non-covered
Reproductive Health Care, 27 Feb 23. This directive implements Army and
DoD policy changes for administrative absence associated with
non-covered reproductive health care.



     c. Reproductive Health Care-Administrative Absence Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).



     d. Reproductive Health Care-Command Notification of Pregnancy Frequently Asked Questions.



     e. Reproductive Health Care-Travel and Transportation Frequently Asked Questions.