Written by / Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
MMT 2011 Volume: 15 Issue: 1 (January)
Technology to Help Military Amputees
Alion Science and Technology, an employeeowned technology solutions company, is leading a modeling and simulation research effort that could help enhance the field of prosthetic limbs. Alion was awarded an 18-month, $1.4 million contract from the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity to explore affordable and improved approaches in bringing robotic control technology to the field of prosthetic limbs.
Alion will develop a protocol and modeling tool for robotic, upper limb prosthetics that will lead to the development of an affordable prosthetic device that is lightweight, more functional to the amputee, more power-efficient and has an extended battery life. The program is designed to augment and accelerate the development of implantable electronic sensors and the development and application of virtual prototyping simulation models, which will ultimately help the amputee better control the prosthetic.
Alion is partnering with Sigenics Inc. of Chicago, Ill., on the contract. Sigenics is a small business that designs integrated circuits and supplies tested die or packaged parts for sensor, analog and mixed-signal applications.
TRICARE Begins New Dental Program
TRICARE Management Activity announced its intent to award the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) contract to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of Bridgewater, N.J.
Dental care coverage under the new contract begins February 1, 2012, following a 12-month transition period from the current contractor, United Concordia Companies, Inc.
More than 1.9 million beneficiaries purchase dental coverage through the TDP, which provides comprehensive dental coverage to family members of uniformed services active duty personnel, as well as members of the selected reserve and individual ready reserve and their eligible family members worldwide.
New and enhanced benefits including an increase in the annual maximum, an increase in the lifetime orthodontic maximum, accidental dental injury coverage, an additional cleaning for women during pregnancy, and much more. Under the new contract, all enrollees will enjoy lower premiums in the first year.
More information about the TRICARE Dental Program is available online at www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/dental/dentalprogram, and information about the TDP contract is available at www.tricare.mil/tdpcontract.
During the 12-month transition enrollees can access customer service at the same toll-free phone numbers they have been using. That contact information can be found at www.tricare.mil/contactus . Well before February 1, 2012, enrollees will receive a welcome packet and new enrollment cards. Beneficiaries can keep up-to-date on dental benefits via e-mail by signing up for benefit updates and news at www.tricare.mil/subscriptions.
The contract award includes a base year and five one-year options. The award amount for the base year is $7,049,314. If all options are exercised, the total contract price to the government is $1.9 billion. ♦