thedrifter
05-08-08, 08:44 AM
Tricare to allow medical visits to local physicians
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, May 8, 2008
WASHINGTON — Overseas servicemembers with a serious illness or injury no longer must travel to distant military treatment facilities if closer, quicker medical help is available.
Under changes made to Tricare policies, troops and their families can use local clinics and physicians when the nearest military treatment facilities (MTF) is short-staffed or too far away for quick response, provided they get advance permission.
The new rules apply to families not covered under the Tricare Global Remote Overseas program, but instead attached to a treatment facility at a military installation.
Tricare spokeswoman Bonnie Powell said the changes involve urgent medical needs, such as sprains, muscle injuries or illnesses that could become hazardous, as opposed to life-threatening emergencies or routine medical visits.
Under current rules, routine appointments still must be handled by military personnel at the nearest MTF. In life-threatening situations, patients are instructed to go to the nearest medical facility regardless of cost.
For the intermediary needs, Powell said, troops and their families within 40 miles of a MTF had been required to go there despite the long travel time.
Now, Tricare will cover visits to local medical facilities instead of the far-away military ones if patients call ahead and clear the visit with military physicians. If they cannot see a patient within 24 hours, or if they decide that more urgent care is needed, Tricare officials will help locate another nearby option, Powell said.
The arrangement is similar to that of servicemembers and families enrolled in the remote overseas program, who typically live in areas more than 40 miles from military medical facilities.
The new rules do not apply to Puerto Rico, because the global overseas program does not operate there, officials said.
Ellie
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, May 8, 2008
WASHINGTON — Overseas servicemembers with a serious illness or injury no longer must travel to distant military treatment facilities if closer, quicker medical help is available.
Under changes made to Tricare policies, troops and their families can use local clinics and physicians when the nearest military treatment facilities (MTF) is short-staffed or too far away for quick response, provided they get advance permission.
The new rules apply to families not covered under the Tricare Global Remote Overseas program, but instead attached to a treatment facility at a military installation.
Tricare spokeswoman Bonnie Powell said the changes involve urgent medical needs, such as sprains, muscle injuries or illnesses that could become hazardous, as opposed to life-threatening emergencies or routine medical visits.
Under current rules, routine appointments still must be handled by military personnel at the nearest MTF. In life-threatening situations, patients are instructed to go to the nearest medical facility regardless of cost.
For the intermediary needs, Powell said, troops and their families within 40 miles of a MTF had been required to go there despite the long travel time.
Now, Tricare will cover visits to local medical facilities instead of the far-away military ones if patients call ahead and clear the visit with military physicians. If they cannot see a patient within 24 hours, or if they decide that more urgent care is needed, Tricare officials will help locate another nearby option, Powell said.
The arrangement is similar to that of servicemembers and families enrolled in the remote overseas program, who typically live in areas more than 40 miles from military medical facilities.
The new rules do not apply to Puerto Rico, because the global overseas program does not operate there, officials said.
Ellie