5th Battalion 11th Marines

TRICARE Updates from TriWest Healthcare Alliance September 2009 - In This Issue of TRICARE News Providing access to quality health care for 2.7 million members of America's military family in the 21-State TRICARE West Region. 1-888-TRIWEST (874-9378) or www.triwest.com

Another TRICARE update, as always the Beneficiary Services Education Representative (BSER) is always available to give briefings to any of you or you staff.

New Online Behavioral Health Options are available:

The TRICARE Assistance Program, TRIAP, is TriWest's Online Care program which can be accessed from home for private, confidential, non-reportable, non-medical professional assistance.

These services are available 24/7/365 via secure Web-based videoconferencing.

This program is available for service members on active duty, Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP), TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) and their family members.

Eligible beneficiaries will use an online videoconferencing application to connect to a master's or Ph.D. level Assistance Counselors.

This counseling is a non-medical discussion of personal life issues, such as:
* relationships
* stress management
* mobilization or post-deployment issues

TRICARE Assistance Program (TRIAP) and other new online behavioral health programs can be accessed by logging on to www.triwest.com/bh and choosing Online Care.

New dental program: Active Duty Dental Program (ADDP)

A new dental program began for active duty and activated service members on August 1, 2009.

Active duty and activated service members who reside within 50 miles of a military Dental Treatment Facility (DTF) will continue to access care at the DTF. If the DTF cannot provide the needed services they will refer the service member to a civilian dental provider using the Active Duty Dental Program administered by United Concordia.

Service members who live and work in a remote location (more than 50 miles from a DTF) will access their dental care from civilian United Concordia dentist using the Remote Active Duty Dental Program. Service members will need to obtain an Appointment Control Number (ACN) from United Concordia prior to seeking dental care.

Please visit www.addp-ucci.com or call 1-866-984-ADDP (1-866-984-2337) for more information.

Flu Shots

With the focus on fighting H1N1 flu this year, it's now more important than ever to get a flu shot.

To get either the seasonal flu shot or H1N1 vaccine, TRICARE Prime patients enrolled at a military installation clinic should call the facility to find out when the vaccines are available.

As long as TRICARE Prime patients receive the seasonal flu shot from a TRICARE network provider, the vaccine is free.

The shot is also free for those enrolled in TRICARE Standard, Extra, or TRICARE Prime Remote, as long as they use any TRICARE-authorized provider.

Keep in mind that while going to a local grocery store or pharmacy for the flu shot may be convenient, these public clinics do not use TRICARE providers and therefore TRICARE will not reimburse beneficiaries for the cost.

If beneficiaries have any concerns about getting a seasonal flu shot or H1N1 vaccine, they should talk to their doctor For more information about the seasonal flu vaccination, West Region TRICARE beneficiaries can talk to their doctor or visit the TriWest Healthy Living Portal .



Double the time for Authorizations and Referrals

Beginning August 4, TRICARE authorizations for care that include evaluation and treatment are good for 180 days. That's twice the 90 days that were allowed previously, giving you more time to complete your care and any follow-up visits. Remember, if you do not receive care before the authorization expires, you will need to get a new authorization.

Please note that this change isn't effective for all authorizations. Some, like maternity authorizations, will be longer than 180 days, and some, such as physical therapy authorizations, will be shorter.

If you are registered at www.triwest.com , you can receive QuickAlert notifications by e-mail or phone once your authorizations or referrals have been processed. That means you can schedule specialty care appointments 7-10 days sooner than if you wait for notification by mail.

Lynda Salmond
Service Area Director
Tri-West Healthcare Alliance
602-763-3973

TRICARE Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) Fact Sheet

What is BWE?

The Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) Web site allows active duty service members, retirees and their families to manage their TRICARE Prime enrollments without visiting a TRICARE Service Center or mailing a paper form. The new Web site is linked to the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), allowing you to update your personal contact information (home address, phone number, e-mail) for both TRICARE and DEERS at the same time.

Site Benefits:

Prime/Prime Remote:
* Enroll/disenroll eligible beneficiaries;
* Make your initial payment (ongoing payments will be billed separately)
* Transfer enrollment;
* Update contact information;
* Select a new primary care manager (PCM);
* Convert your active duty enrollment to a retiree enrollment up to 90 days before retirement;
* Add other health insurance information;
* Request a new enrollment card;
* View enrollment information.

Standard:
* Update contact information;
* Add other health insurance information;
* Initiate Prime enrollment.

How can I access the site?

If you are a TRICARE beneficiary, you can access the new Web site by logging on to www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/bwe/ with a:

1. Valid Certified Common Access Card (CAC)
2. Defense Financial and Accounting Services (DFAS) PIN "myPay" or
3. Family Account - To get a Family Member Account, active duty sponsors can login to the Family Account Manager at www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dsaccess/ using his or her CAC. The sponsor selects which family members can receive a Family Account, and then creates a separate account and a temporary password for each of them. Once a sponsor establishes the accounts, family members should be given the Family Account numbers and temporary passwords. The family member can then login to the BWE application. At the first login, the family member will be prompted to change the temporary password. At this time family accounts are not available for our retiree population.

For information on how to get a CAC or reset a CAC PIN number, visit www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl or call the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office toll free at 1-800-477-8227 for assistance in locating a facility.

Things to know when making updates and changes in the BWE Web site: * You should not seek care until you receive an enrollment card or PCM change letter in the mail. * You may also check the BWE Web site routinely to view your enrollment status.

Enrollments and PCM changes will be pending until approved. This approval may take up to six calendar days. You may cancel any enrollment or PCM change put in BWE within 48 hours of performing the transaction while it is still pending.

* If you submit your enrollment form and correct fee payment online by the 20th of the month, it is effective the first day of the next month. For instance, if TRICARE receives an enrollment by April 20, coverage will begin May 1. If a family enrolls April 25, they will be covered under the TRICARE Prime benefit starting June 1.
* Complete your online enrollment transfer prior to your arrival at a new Prime service area by updating your address.
* Active duty service members can complete the enrollment transfer process up to 90 days before a permanent change in station.
* Print out a copy of the enrollment confirmation for personal records.
* Choose a PCM within the 30-minute drive time access standard, or understand that you have waived your right to a PCM within 30 minutes of your home. BWE cannot determine drive time from your home to a PCM. TRICARE will apply a blanket waiver to each application completed through BWE if the PCM you choose is more then 30 minutes from your home.

BWE Resources

* For technical assistance when using BWE, call the Defense Manpower Data Center at 1-800-477-8227.
* Call the TRICARE Service Center in your region for questions about BWE enrollment processing:

§ North, 1-877-874-2273

§ South, 1-800-444-5445

§ West, 1-888-874-9378