Sept. 30, 2017 This Month in AFMS History: Spotlighting Lt. Gen. Alexander “Rusty” Sloan Dr. Alexander “Rusty” Sloan never entertained the idea of becoming the Air Force Surgeon General. Throughout his career, Sloan even tried to avoid serving at the Pentagon; however, he excelled at every assignment, pushing him quickly up into the ranks and putting him on the path to becoming the 14th
Sept. 28, 2017 Be there, be aware: Help prevent suicide When we focus on our health, it’s easy to pay attention to physical health versus mental well-being. Ignoring mental health concerns like anxiety and depression can lead to worsening symptoms and more serious issues. For some people, these issues may include an increased risk of suicide.
Sept. 19, 2017 Take action to make a smooth transition with TRICARE in 2018 You may be wondering what action you need to take, if any, to ensure you continue TRICARE coverage in 2018. Some beneficiaries will need to take action, but most will not. If you’re currently enrolled in or eligible for TRICARE coverage on Dec. 31, 2017, you’ll transition to your respective TRICARE
Sept. 11, 2017 Eliminate the risk of secondhand smoke to your family You don’t have to be a routine smoker to feel the harmful health effects that cigarette smoke produces. Keeping the windows open in the car or house doesn’t eliminate the risk, either.
Sept. 7, 2017 Five things to know about TRICARE while traveling It’s never fun when things go wrong on summer getaways or family vacations. If you or a family member on vacation picks up a nasty cold or steps on a jellyfish, remember that TRICARE travels with you. Before you pack up and head out, learn how to receive care when traveling.
Aug. 29, 2017 Emergency TRICARE procedures in effect for Louisiana and Texas due to Hurricane Harvey The governors of Louisiana and Texas have declared a State of Emergency due to severe flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. To help beneficiaries affected by the storm, TRICARE has granted emergency prescription refills and waived referral requirements.Emergency RefillsEmergency prescription refill
Aug. 29, 2017 Changes Are Coming to TRICARE. Are You Ready? Changes are coming to your TRICARE benefit beginning January 1, 2018. These changes will give you more benefit choices, improving your access to care and simplifying cost shares. The best way to prepare is to update your information in DEERS, sign up for TRICARE benefit updates, and visit the
Aug. 25, 2017 State of Emergency for several counties in Texas due to Hurricane Harvey The governor of Texas has declared a State of Emergency for several counties due to severe weather. Emergency refill procedures are in place from August 23, 2017 through September 05, 2017.Affected counties include: Aransas, Austin, Bee, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Brazoria, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort
Aug. 15, 2017 Annual Consent for Automatic Prescription Refills Begins Sept. 1 Beginning Sept. 1, 2017, Express Scripts will need annual consent from patients who want to receive automatic refills of their maintenance medications enrolled in TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. This means that just before one of your prescriptions runs out of refills, Express Scripts will reach out
July 21, 2017 TRICARE Expands Treatment Options for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders TRICARE expanded mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services, adding intensive outpatient programs and expanding options for opioid treatment. In addition to other improvements, this expansion improves access to care and increases opportunities for mental health and SUD treatment. It
July 11, 2017 TRICARE Online (TOL) is back up running TRICARE Online (TOL) is back online, but there may be some functions that are slower than usual or not available temporarily as we work to restore full functionality. If you are unable to access TOL, you can contact your military hospital or clinic directly for appointments or medication refills.For
July 7, 2017 TRICARE Online (TOL) patient portal currently down The TRICARE Online (TOL) patient portal is currently down. On July 5, a computer hardware failure caused an outage in the TRICARE Online patient portal. Engineers are on site in San Antonio, assessing the problem and developing a solution to return TRICARE Online to service as quickly as
May 25, 2017 Moving? Toss Unwanted or Expired Medications Appropriately Many service members and their families are gearing up to move this summer as peak moving season runs May through August each year. As you organize your house and belongings to prepare for your move, one area of your home you shouldn’t overlook is your medicine cabinet. Now is the perfect time to
April 28, 2017 TRICARE: Do You Need Emergency or Urgent Care? When you’re sick or in pain, it can be hard to determine the level of care you need. If a child or other family member needs care, the anxiety can be even greater. In those moments, you need to decide whether to go to an emergency room, an urgent care center, or to schedule an appointment with your
April 4, 2017 Improvements to the TRICARE Dental Program Beginning on May 1, 2017, United Concordia Companies, Inc. (United Concordia) will manage the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP). Beneficiaries don’t need to take any actions to continue their coverage.The TDP is a voluntary dental benefit for eligible active duty family members, National Guard and
March 21, 2017 TRICARE Can Offer Relief for Allergy Sufferers Whether it is seasonal or a reaction to a specific food, allergies can be bothersome or dangerous. With seasonal allergies, depending on where you live, allergies can begin to affect you as early as February. If you suffer from food or other allergies, the effects can be felt year-round. The key
March 15, 2017 Don’t Get Caught Out in the Cold The winter season is coming to an end, but end of season storms can still be dangerous. Protect yourself and your family from cold weather dangers.Snow, sleet and high winds can knock out heat, power and communication services to your home or office. When you know a storm is coming, prepare for
March 1, 2017 Preventing Traumatic Brain Injury in Your Child When it comes to traumatic brain injury (TBI), you can’t have too much information. Traumatic brain injuries affect millions of Americans each year, and each TBI experience is unique. Be sure to know the signs and symptoms of TBI as well as how you can prevent yourself and your loved ones from
Dec. 20, 2016 Managing Mental Health over the Holidays Holidays are a time when families come together to eat good food and spend quality time. They also can be a time of stress whether you are worried about having enough money, hosting the largest family get-together of the year, or traveling long distances.According to the Centers for Disease Control
Nov. 25, 2016 TRICARE and the Affordable Care Act With the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, TRICARE beneficiaries have had questions about how it will affect them. The ACA and TRICARE are very different, governed by two different pieces of legislation so changes in one have no effect on the other. The