DOD Officially Announces Changes to TRICARE Prime Service Areas
Press Release
Following the official announcement of changes to TRICARE Prime service areas, Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-2) today said his office will continue to push the Department of Defense (DoD) to evaluate and mitigate the impact on military retirees and their families. Starting October 1, 2013, DoD will reduce the number of Prime Service Areas (PSAs) where it offers the TRICARE Prime managed care option to retirees and their family members. This change will affect approximately 171,000 military retired beneficiaries in 41 states currently enrolled in TRICARE Prime, including 1,043 Nevadans. It does not apply to active duty service members and their families.
Amodei requested a briefing with DoD officials in Washington, D.C. for next week to further understand how these changes will affect Northern Nevada.
"It concerns me that the administration would implement a policy without fully understanding the impact on more than 170,000 veterans and their families nationwide, including more than 1,000 Nevadans," said Amodei. "My responsibility is to help ensure that these veterans continue to receive the high-quality health care they earned and are accustomed to. That is why I will reintroduce, along with Congressman Greg Walden (OR-2), the TRICARE Protection Act and will take additional steps to keep those affected appraised with the latest information."
The TRICARE Protection Act would require DoD to:
Establish a navigator service to assist affected eligible beneficiaries in locating primary care providers.
Enroll eligible beneficiaries in TRICARE Prime Remote if it is determined that the beneficiaries would not otherwise have access to primary care providers who meet TRICARE access standards.
Background:
TRICARE news release: Changes to Prime Service Areas
http://www.tricare.mil/Welcome/AboutUs/T3Contracts/ChangestoPSAs.aspx
News report: Retirees not near bases to lose Tricare Prime
http://www.jdnews.com/news/military/retirees-not-near-bases-to-lose-tricare-prime-1.77484
Previous releases from Rep. Amodei:
Senate and House leaders include bipartisan plan on TRICARE Prime in defense bill
http://amodei.house.gov/news-releases/senate-and-house-leaders-include-bipartisan-plan-on-tricare-prime-in-defense-bill/
Amodei backs plan to protect health care access for Northern Nevada's military retirees
http://amodei.house.gov/news-releases/amodei-backs-plan-to-protect-health-care-access-for-northern-nevadas-military-retirees/
Amodei questions TRICARE changes for Northern Nevada
http://amodei.house.gov/news-releases/amodei-questions-tricare-changes-for-northern-nevada/
Source