ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE ROUTINE R 021143Z AUG 01 ZYB MIN PSN 597283J34 FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// TO NAVADMIN UNCLAS //N06000// NAVADMIN 193/01 MSGID/GENADMIN/N1// SUBJ/QUARTERLY TRICARE// REF/A/MEMO/OUSD(PERSONNEL AND READINESS)/16OCT2000// AMPN/REF A IS OUSD MEMO OF 16 OCT 00.// RMKS/1. SAILORS AND FAMILIES HAVE FREQUENTLY REPORTED DIFFICULTIES IN USING AND UNDERSTANDING TRICARE, INCLUDING RE-ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES, BENEFITS, AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES. THIS MESSAGE AND THOSE IN A SERIES OF QUARTERLY UPDATES WHICH WILL FOLLOW, SERVES TO MINIMIZE DIFFICULTIES THROUGH AWARENESS OF CURRENT TRICARE INFORMATION. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 101-CHECK-IN FOR BETTER TRICARE SERVICE 102-RECENT TRICARE IMPROVEMENTS 103-TRICARE FOR SAILORS IN "REMOTE" LOCATIONS 104-DEERS UPDATE REQUIREMENT 105-REMINDER TO NEW PARENTS 106-NATIONAL MAIL ORDER PHARMACY (NMOP) INFORMATION 107-COMMANDING OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES 108-REGIONS AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS ---TRICARE--- 101. AS DIRECTED IN REF (A), ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL WILL CHECK IN TO THE NEAREST MILITARY TREATMENT FACILITY (MTF), TRICARE SERVICE CENTER (OR APPROPRIATE MEDICAL REPRESENTATIVE IF THERE IS NO MTF), AT THEIR NEW PERMANENT DUTY STATIONS. BY VERIFYING THEIR ENROLLMENT STATUS AND THAT OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY WILL ENSURE FASTER SERVICE AND BE GIVEN INFORMATION ON THE MEDICAL CARE AVAILABLE LOCALLY. LIKEWISE, UPON TRANSFER FROM EACH PERMANENT DUTY STATION WHEN CHECKING OUT, SAILORS WILL LEARN HOW TO ACCESS MEDICAL CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHILE IN TRANSIT BETWEEN DUTY STATIONS. 102. THE 2001 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA) INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING IMPROVEMENTS TO TRICARE EFFECTIVE 1 APR 01: A. ACTIVE DUTY FAMILY MEMBERS ENROLLED IN TRICARE PRIME ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO MAKE CO-PAYMENTS TO CIVILIAN PROVIDERS. B. NAVY MEDAL-OF-HONOR RECIPIENTS ARE NOW AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED IN DEERS AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TRICARE. 103. TRICARE PRIME REMOTE (TPR) IS A PROGRAM FOR ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT STATIONED NEAR AN MTF. TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR TPR, VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.TRICARE.OSD.MIL AND SELECT "TRICARE PRIME REMOTE" AS THE SEARCH OPTION, OR CONTACT YOUR LOCAL HEALTH BENEFITS ADVISOR OR BENEFICIARY COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR. WHEN YOU HAVE DETERMINED YOUR ELIGIBILITY, CONTACT THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER, 1-888-363-2273 FOR ENROLLMENT. ONCE ENROLLED, PRIMARY CARE MAY BE OBTAINED WITHOUT PRE-AUTHORIZATION. SPECIALTY CARE WILL REQUIRE COORDINATION WITH THE REGIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS ADVISOR LISTED IN SUBPARAGRAPH 107 BELOW. 104. SAILORS ARE REMINDED THAT DEERS ENROLLMENT AND UPDATES ARE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE TIMELY HEALTH CARE. THIS INCLUDES USE OF THE NATIONAL MAIL ORDER PHARMACY (NMOP) IN SUBPARAGRAPH 106 BELOW. ADDRESS CHANGES CAN BE ENTERED VIA THE TRICARE WEBSITE WWW.TRICARE.OSD.MIL, GO TO "SEARCH," SELECT "DEERS" AND SUBMIT THE CHANGE. OTHER METHODS INCLUDE: - VISITING THE NEAREST MILITARY PERSONNEL OFFICE. - E-MAILING CHANGES TO ADDRINFO@OSD.PENTAGON.MIL. - MAILING CHANGES TO THE DEERS SUPPORT OFFICE, ATTN: COA, 400 GIGLING ROAD, SEASIDE, CA 93955-6771. - CALLING 1-800-538-9552, THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR THE DEFENSE MANPOWER DATA CENTER SUPPORT OFFICE (DSO) TELEPHONE CENTER. TO AVOID DELAYS, CALL DSO BETWEEN 0900 - 1500 (PACIFIC TIME) WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. 105. PARENTS OF NEWBORNS OR RECENTLY ADOPTED CHILDREN MUST ENROLL THEIR CHILD IMMEDIATELY IN DEERS. WITHIN 120 DAYS FROM DATE OF BIRTH OR ADOPTION, PARENTS NEED TO CHOOSE THEIR CHILD'S TRICARE COVERAGE TO AVOID THE DEFAULT ENROLLMENT OF THEIR CHILD INTO TRICARE STANDARD. 106. MTF PHARMACIES ARE THE RECOMMENDED SOURCE FOR FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE FILLED AT NO CHARGE. THE NATIONAL MAIL ORDER PHARMACY (NMOP) IS A CONVENIENT ALTERNATIVE FOR PRESCRIPTIONS OF ACTIVE DUTY AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO REQUIRE PERIODIC OR REGULAR REFILLS. THE NMOP PLAN CANNOT BE USED IF A BENEFICIARY HAS A SECOND HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN, UNLESS THE MEDICATION IS NOT COVERED BY THE SECOND PLAN. AS ALWAYS, THERE IS NO CO-PAY FOR ACTIVE DUTY; FAMILY MEMBERS WILL BE CHARGED NINE DOLLARS FOR BRAND NAME PRESCRIPTIONS, AND A REDUCED CO-PAYMENT OF THREE DOLLARS FOR GENERIC DRUGS. RETAIL NETWORK PHARMACIES OFFER ANOTHER SOURCE OF PHARMACY SERVICES. ALTHOUGH CO-PAYS ARE THE SAME WHETHER USING NMOP OR RETAIL PHARMACIES, NMOP PROVIDES A 90-DAY SUPPLY FOR LONG TERM USE MEDICATIONS, WHEREAS RETAIL NETWORK PHARMACIES PROVIDE ONLY A 30-DAY SUPPLY. THE NMOP'S TOLL-FREE PHONE NUMBER IS 1-800-903-4680. 107. COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING: A. SAILORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS RECEIVE TRICARE BRIEFINGS PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT OR PCS TRANSFER, INCLUDING INFORMATION REGARDING HEALTH CARE AVAILABLITY AT PROSPECTIVE DUTY STATIONS. B. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WILL BE AFFIXED TO ALL TAD ORDERS/LEAVE PAPERS: "IF EMERGENCY CARE (LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS) IS NEEDED, GET CARE IMMEDIATELY THEN DIAL THE (1-800-# WITHIN 24 HOURS FOR THE REGION WHERE THE MEMBER IS ENROLLED); ALL OTHER CARE MUST FIRST BE AUTHORIZED BY THE REGION IN WHICH THE MEMBER IS ENROLLED." THIS IS TO ENSURE PROPER CLAIM PAYMENT. C. FAMILY MEMBERS WITH SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS ARE DIRECTED TO THE LOCAL EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER (EFM) COORDINATOR FOR ASSISTANCE AND ENROLLMENT. D. ALL SAILORS KNOW HOW TO CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE TRICARE HEALTH BENEFITS ADVISOR. E. ALL ELIGIBLE SAILORS STATIONED AT REMOTE SITES ARE ENROLLED IN TRICARE PRIME REMOTE (TPR). 108. FOR MORE TRICARE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE TRICARE REGION AS INDICATED BELOW OR VISIT THE WWW.TRICARE.OSD.MIL. A. REGION 1 (NORTHEAST) 1-888-999-5195: MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, RHODE ISLAND, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, NORTHERN VIRGINIA, AND NORTHEASTERN WEST VIRGINIA. B. REGION 2 (MID-ATLANTIC) 1-800-931-9501: NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHERN VIRGINIA. C. REGIONS 3 AND 4 (SOUTHEAST AND GULF SOUTH) 1-800-444-5445: FLORIDA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, EASTERN THIRD OF LOUISIANA INCLUDING NEW ORLEANS AND BATON ROUGE, AND NORTHEASTERN ARKANSAS. D. REGION 5 (HEARTLAND) 1-800-941-4501: MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, OHIO, KENTUCKY, FT. CAMPBELL CATCHMENT AREA OF TENNESSEE, THE ST. LOUIS AREA IN MISSOURI, AND WEST VIRGINIA. E. REGION 6 (SOUTHWEST) 1-800-406-2832: OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS (EXCEPT FOR THE NORTHEASTERN ARKANSAS AREA COVERED BY MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE DETACHMENT AREA), TEXAS (EXCEPT FOR THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE STATE THAT INCLUDES EL PASO TX) AND THE WESTERN TWO-THIRDS OF LOUISIANA, GENERALLY WEST OF BATON ROUGE. F. REGIONS 7 AND 8 (CENTRAL) 1-888-874-9378: ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, COLORADO, WYOMING, UTAH, MONTANA, NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA, KANSAS, NEBRASKA, MINNESOTA, IOWA, MOST OF IDAHO (EXCEPT FOR SIX COUNTIES IN NORTHERN IDAHO), SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS (INCLUDES EL PASO), AND MISSOURI (EXCEPT FOR THE ST. LOUIS AREA). G. REGION 9 (SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA) AND REGION 10 (GOLDEN GATE) 1-800-242-6788: CALIFORNIA AND THE YUMA, ARIZONA AREA. H. REGION 11 (NORTHWEST) 1-800-982-0032: WASHINGTON, OREGON, THE FOLLOWING SIX COUNTIES IN NORTHERN IDAHO (BENEWAH, BONNER, BOUNDRY, KOOTENAI, LAATAH AND SHOSHONE). I. TRICARE PACIFIC (WESTPAC): 1-888-777-8343. J. TRICARE PACIFIC (HAWAII AND ALASKA): 1-800-242-6788. K. TRICARE EUROPE: 1-888-777-8343. L. TRICARE LATIN AMERICA/PUERTO RICO/CANADA: 1-888-777-8343. M. FOR TRICARE DENTAL PLAN, CONTACT UNITED CONCORDIA COMPANIES: 1-800-866-8499. 2. NAVPERSCOM POINTS OF CONTACT ARE CAPT P. A. KENNEY AT (202) 762-1682/DSN 762 OR CAPT G. SHEEHAN AT (901) 874-4318/DSN 882. 3. RELEASED BY VADM NORB RYAN, JR., N1.// BT