Oct. 1, 2013 TRICARE issues statement about government shutdown On October 1, 2013, the Defense Health Agency issued the following statement:"We know that those who rely on the Military Health System (MHS) are concerned about how the government shutdown might impact their health care.While we can't predict the exact consequences of a shutdown on every part of
Sept. 27, 2013 New flu vaccine offers triple protection Each year, flu season affects millions of men, women and children. Flu season usually begins in October, so now is a great time to protect yourself and your family from the flu by getting vaccinated. The flu shot is easy to get and inexpensive - often free - for TRICARE beneficiaries and this year
Sept. 16, 2013 Pharmacy home delivery cost-efficient, safe Following an almost year-long study of the TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery program requested by members of Congress, the Defense Department inspector general's office has determined it is a cost-efficient way for beneficiaries to get their prescription medications, TRICARE Management Activity
Aug. 15, 2013 DOD announces same-sex spouse benefits Today, the Department of Defense announced its plan to extend benefits to same-sex spouses of uniformed service members and Department of Defense civilian employees, according to a DOD news release issued today.After a review of the department's benefit policies following the Supreme Court's ruling
Aug. 8, 2013 Fleas and Ticks and Mosquitoes, Oh My! Avoiding and Treating Bug Bites in the Summer As we approach the end of summer, many will try to enjoy the last few weeks of warm weather and outdoor fun. Unfortunately, many insects also enjoy warm weather. Most flying pests are harmless, but some bugs have more serious bites that require protection. This not only wards off a serious case of
Aug. 7, 2013 TRICARE moves forward with prime service area reductions Defense Department officials will reduce the number of TRICARE Prime service areas in the United States beginning Oct. 1, affecting about 171,000 retirees and their family members. Those beneficiaries, who mostly reside more than 40 miles from a military clinic or hospital, received a letter
Aug. 6, 2013 TRICARE Webinar to Outline Health Plan Options after TRICARE and Military OneSource will host a webinar to discuss health plan options available to beneficiaries after they lose TRICARE eligibility on Thursday, August 15, 2013, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT. During this time of transition, many service members leaving active duty before retiring want to
Aug. 6, 2013 Weight, Body Fat and BMI: Which Numbers Really Matter? Obesity is a major health epidemic in the U.S. and military service members are no exception to the battle of the bulge. According to the 2011 Health Related Behaviors Survey of Active Duty Personnel, 51 percent of service members are overweight. Another 12 percent of service members are classified
July 22, 2013 Pilot program enhances Autism care, treatment A congressionally mandated pilot program set to launch July 25 will enhance an existing Defense Department program that provides care and treatment for military children with autism, a senior DOD official said.Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs and director of
July 18, 2013 TRICARE Webinar to Cover Eligibility Requirements for Former Spouses TRICARE and Military OneSource will host a webinar about TRICARE Eligibility after Divorce on Wednesday, July 24, 2013, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT. Dealing with divorce is hard for families, especially establishing parental responsibilities for children and stepchildren. Once a spouse separates from
June 27, 2013 SecDef: DOD welcomes Supreme Court decision Defense Department officials will move forward in making benefits available to all military spouses, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement issued after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act.The law had prevented federal agencies from offering all of the same
June 18, 2013 TRICARE Online Releases Continuity of Care Document TRICARE Online (TOL) recently released a new Blue Button download option called a Continuity of Care Document (CCD). The TOL CCD contains a summary of Blue Button personal health data including lab results, medications, allergies and problem lists.The CCD is an industry standard and is easy to
June 4, 2013 Summer Trips to the Dentist Summertime brings many things to mind, like picnics at the beach or sunning by the pool, but rarely trips to the dentist. However, planning dental care treatment for the summer can be beneficial for both children and adults.According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), tooth decay affects
May 15, 2013 Beneficiaries must sign up for TRICARE automatic payment by May 31 Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Retired Reserve who pay monthly premiums by check must switch to an electronic form of payment by May 31 to avoid losing coverage. TRICARE will only accept monthly premium payments using recurring automatic payments by credit or debit card,
May 7, 2013 TRICARE Eases Prime Authorization Rules for West Region TRICARE West Region Prime enrollees referred for specialty care from April 1 up to May 18, 2013 do not need authorization before seeking care. The authorization requirement has been temporarily waived due to delays by UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans in processing referrals. TRICARE Management
May 3, 2013 AF general appointed to head single military health agency The Defense Department on April 25 moved a step closer toward reshaping the Tricare Management Activity into a broader Defense Health Agency, naming and promoting Air Force Maj. Gen. Douglas Robb to head the new three-star directorate.Robb co-chaired a DoD task force that reviewed the military
May 1, 2013 Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center looks for more patients Airmen who are sick of living day to day with their glasses and contacts have an opportunity to leave them all behind.The Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center at Travis AFB's David Grant U.S. Air Force Medical Center has no waiting list and is looking for Airmen who wish to eliminate their
April 25, 2013 TRICARE a Part of April National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)-sponsored National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is April 27, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Take-Back Day provides a venue for safe disposal of prescription drugs that might otherwise be susceptible to misuse, abuse or environmental contamination.Medicines left at
April 11, 2013 Medical appointment reminders available via TRICARE Online Have you or your family members ever missed a medical appointment at the your clinic? Would a text-message or e-mail reminder have helped you remember? If you answered yes to either of these questions, we have a solution for you. TRICARE Online, which allows beneficiaries the ability to schedule,
April 5, 2013 Reductions won't affect most TRICARE Prime beneficiaries Despite upcoming service area reductions, TRICARE Prime will remain a health care option for 97 percent of the more than 5 million beneficiaries eligible for the health care plan, Military Health System officials said.The 3 percent difference, which comprises about 171,000 beneficiaries who mostly