Traveling with TRICARE Prime Published Jan. 25, 2012 By Natalie Henderson 82nd Medical Support Squadron SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- It is recommended that any routine medical care should be coordinated through a Primary Care Manager (PCM) before traveling. Beneficiaries receiving routine medical care while traveling without an authorization will be billed as Point of Service and require the beneficiary to pay out of pocket expenses. Emergency Care TRICARE defines an emergency as a medical, maternity or psychiatric condition leading a prudent layperson to believe a serious medical condition exists; or the absence of medical care will result in a threat to life, limb or eyesight , chest pain, inability to breath, head trauma etc. If Emergency Care is needed call 911 or report to the nearest emergency room. Provide the emergency room staff with your ID card. As soon as possible provide the PCM with the name of the facility, contact address, phone number and schedule any follow up care needed. Urgent Care Urgent care services are medically necessary services required for an illness or injury that would not result in further disability or death if not treated immediately such as rising fever, lacerations, etc. However, urgent care requires professional attention and should be treated within 24 hours. Call Humana at 1-800-444-5445 and ask for the closest urgent or acute care TRICARE authorized facility. Provide the medical facility with the beneficiaries ID card. Contact the PCM the next business day to provide the name, contact address and phone number of the facility for an authorization. An authorization must be submitted by the PCM for payment to occur. Remember to schedule up any follow up care with the PCM. Filling Prescriptions on the Road While traveling, have prescriptions filled at a TRICARE network pharmacy. To find a TRICARE retail pharmacy, call 1-866-363-8779 or visit www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE . Beneficiaries should remember to present their ID card when filling their prescriptions. If a bill is received for any services, bring the information into the TRICARE Service Center as soon as possible for clarification or authorization for payment. Failure to do so may result in the out-standing medical bills sent to collection for non-payment.