ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 231815Z APR 01 ZYB MIN PSN 510065J17
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC//SN//
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS
ALNAV 040/01
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV//
 
SUBJ/THE FY 2001 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA)//
 
RMKS/1.  THE FY 2001 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA)
CONTAINS SEVERAL PROVISIONS THAT WILL INCREASE HEALTH CARE
BENEFITS FOR ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND
WILL PROVIDE AN UNPRECEDENTED BENEFIT FOR RETIREES OVER AGE 65.
AN UNDERSTANDING OF THESE BENEFITS IS IMPORTANT FOR BOTH
RECRUITING AND RETENTION.  THIS MESSAGE PROVIDES INFORMATION ON
SOME OF THE NDAA BENEFITS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
 
2.  EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2001, ACTIVE DUTY FAMILY MEMBERS (ADFM)
ENROLLED IN TRICARE PRIME NO LONGER HAVE TO MAKE COPAYMENTS FOR
MEDICAL CARE RECEIVED FROM CIVILIAN PROVIDERS.  FAMILY MEMBERS WHO
USE THE POINT-OF-SERVICE OPTION ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE
ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLE OF $300 PER MEMBER OR $600 PER FAMILY, AND 50
PERCENT OF THE TRICARE ALLOWABLE CHARGE ONCE THE DEDUCTIBLE IS MET.
ADFM WILL STILL HAVE TO PAY PHARMACY CO-PAYMENTS FOR THE NATIONAL
MAIL ORDER PHARMACY PROGRAM AND AT NETWORK RETAIL STORES.
 
3.  A NEW SIMPLIFIED CO-PAYMENT STRUCTURE FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
OBTAINED THROUGH THE NATIONAL MAIL ORDER PHARMACY (NMOP) OR
RETAIL PHARMACIES BEGAN 1 APRIL 01.  THE BEST VALUE
IN FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS WILL STILL BE AT THE MILITARY HOSPITAL
OR CLINIC WHERE THERE IS NO CO-PAY.  THE MOST ECONOMICAL WAY TO
FILL A PRESCRIPTION OUTSIDE MILITARY HOSPITALS WILL BE THE NMOP.
BENEFICIARIES MAY RECEIVE UP TO A 90-DAY SUPPLY OF A "BRAND NAME"
DRUG ON THE FORMULARY LIST FOR $9 OR A GENERIC DRUG FOR $3 THROUGH
THE NMOP, COMPARED TO A 30-DAY SUPPLY FOR THE SAME CO-PAYS AT A
NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK PHARMACY.  TRICARE STANDARD BENEFICIARIES USING
A NON-NETWORK PHARMACY WILL HAVE HIGHER CO-PAYS AND MUST FULFILL
THEIR DEDUCTIBLE.  ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS HAVE NO CO-PAY.
 
4.  ALL ELEMENTS OF THE DOD PHARMACY PROGRAM WILL BE EXTENDED TO
BENEFICIARIES AGE 65 AND OVER AS OF 1 APRIL 2001.  BENEFICIARIES WHO
ATTAIN THE AGE OF 65 PRIOR TO APRIL 1, 2001, MUST BE ENTITLED TO
MEDICARE PART A.  BENEFICIARIES MUST BE MEDICARE-ELIGIBLE AND
ENROLLED IN MEDICARE PART B IF THEY TURNED 65 ON OR AFTER APRIL 1,
2001 IN ORDER TO USE THE SENIOR PHARMACY PROGRAM.  INFORMATION IS
AVAILABLE ON THE MEDICARE WEB SITE AT
WWW.MEDICARE.GOV/BASICS/OVERVIEW.ASP.
 
5.  CURRENTLY, CERTAIN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A
PROGRAM CALLED TRICARE PRIME REMOTE (TPR).  IN THE FUTURE,
FAMILIES RESIDING WITH THOSE ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE
FOR A NEW PROGRAM CALLED TRICARE PRIME REMOTE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS
(TPRFM).  FAMILY MEMBERS LIVING WITH THEIR TPR ELIGIBLE ACTIVE
DUTY SPONSOR MORE THAN AN HOUR'S DRIVE TIME (APPROXIMATELY 50
MILES) FROM A MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITY WILL BE ELIGIBLE
TO ENROLL IN THE PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS THE SAME BENEFITS AS TRICARE
PRIME.  FAMILY MEMBERS CURRENTLY RESIDING WITH TPR ELIGIBLE SERVICE
MEMBERS SHOULD KEEP ALL COPIES OF CLAIMS AND EXPLANATION OF BENEFITS
(EOB) FOR SERVICES RECEIVED SINCE OCTOBER 30, 2000 AS THEY WILL BE
ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR REIMBURSEMENT WHEN THE TPRFM PROGRAM IS
IMPLEMENTED.
 
6.  MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND OTHER BENEFITS PROVIDED BY
THIS YEAR'S NDAA IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.TRICARE.OSD.MIL OR BY
CONTACTING YOUR LOCAL MILITARY TREATMENT FACILITY AND TALKING TO THE
HEALTH BENEFITS ADVISOR.
 
7.  ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS IN TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE
OF THESE BENEFITS IS TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE UPDATED THE DEFENSE
ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY REPORTING SYSTEM (DEERS) RECORD WITH YOUR
CORRECT ADDRESS AND ANY CHANGES IN FAMILY STATUS, SUCH AS MARRIAGE,
DIVORCE, BIRTH OR ADOPTION.  YOU CAN UPDATE ADDRESSES IN DEERS IN A
NUMBER OF WAYS:  BY VISITING LOCAL PERSONNEL OFFICES THAT HAVE AN ID
CARD FACILITY; BY CALLING THE DEFENSE MANPOWER DATA CENTER SUPPORT
OFFICE (DSO) TELEPHONE CENTER AT 800-538-9552 (THE BEST TIME TO CALL
THE TELEPHONE CENTER IS WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, BETWEEN 0900 AND
1500 (PACIFIC TIME) TO AVOID DELAYS); BY FAXING CHANGES TO THE DSO,
ATTN: COA, (831) 655-8317; BY MAILING THE CHANGE INFORMATION TO THE
DSO, ATTN: TFL, 400 GIGLING ROAD, SEASIDE, CA 93955-6771; BY
VISITING A MILITARY TREATMENT FACILITY; BY EMAILING INFORMATION TO
ADDRINFO@OSD.PENTAGON.MIL.  PROVIDE THE SPONSOR'S NAME AND SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER, NAME(S) OF OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AFFECTED BY THE
ADDRESS CHANGE, EFFECTIVE DATE OF ADDRESS INFORMATION, AND TELEPHONE
NUMBER (TO INCLUDE AREA CODE), IF AVAILABLE.  INTERNET USERS SHOULD
USE ALL LOWERCASE LETTERS.  TO CHANGE INFORMATION IN DEERS OTHER
THAN ADDRESS, BENEFICIARIES MAY VISIT AN ID CARD FACILITY, OR MAIL
OR FAX CHANGES WITH APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION TO THE ADDRESS OR FAX
NUMBERS PROVIDED ABOVE.  TO LEARN WHAT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED,
CONTACT THE NEAREST MILITARY ID CARD FACILITY.
 
8.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE ROBERT B. PIRIE, JR., ACTING,
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.//
 
BT