Hilltop Times – Hill Air Force Base Weekly Newspaper Since 1948

MINNETONKA, Minn. — TriCare Management Activity is temporarily waiving the requirement for authorization of care in order to expedite service in its West Region, served by UnitedHealthcare. The waiver applies to any referrals obtained, or care received, from April 1 to May 18, 2013.

Referrals are typically entered electronically, generating an authorization from the managed care support contractor.

On April 1, the TriCare West Region contract will transition from TriWest to UnitedHealthcare Military and Veterans. Information about this change may be found at www.tricare.mil/westtransition. Your TRICARE benefit remains unchanged under the new contract. Please note the following dates to make this process seamless:

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - TRICARE is expanding the number of preventive vaccines covered at retail network pharmacies. Until now, the majority of vaccines were only covered when obtained through a physician's office.

"Vaccines are a critical part of every family's preventive health program," said Rear Adm. Christine Hunter, TriCare Management Activity deputy director. "We are very pleased to offer this expanded convenience to our beneficiaries and, best of all, there's no copay."

With just the right amount of pomp and circumstance Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed a concurrent resolution of the Utah legislature last week honoring the state's TriCare network providers for their continued support to their military beneficiaries.

The concurrent resolution, which was signed on May 11 in the Gold Room at the Utah State Capitol Building, recognizes the more than 4,400 network healthcare providers that care for nearly 70,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, their family members, and military retirees throughout the state.

Just as you and your family stepped up and chose to serve our country, more than 180,000 doctors in the Western Region have stepped up to become TriCare providers -- to serve you.

They made the choice, and now is your opportunity to thank them. With National Doctors' Day around the corner on March 30, you can "shout-out" on Facebook to a special TriCare doctor who's made an impact in your life.

Just log onto the Facebook page of TriWest Healthcare Alliance, the company that administers TRICARE in 21 western states, and share what makes your doctor so special.

Security officials recently released a report that there had been a number of calls to military personnel from individuals claiming to be from the Department of Defense requesting personal information as part of a TriCare national survey, not standard practice.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- For the first time, members of the Retired Reserve who are not yet age 60, the so-called "gray area" retirees, can purchase TriCare health coverage for themselves and their eligible family members with the Sept. 1 launch of TriCare Retired Reserve.

"This new program offers a health coverage opportunity for 'gray area' guardsmen and reservists who served America honorably, setting a proud example for today's forces," said Rear Adm. Christine Hunter, deputy director of the TriCare Management Activity.

Retirees got updates on lobbying efforts by the National Association for Uniformed Services at a Hill Air Force Base Retiree Appreciation Day on Aug. 27.

Rick Jones, NAUS representative, reported on efforts by his organization to keep military retiree benefits in place, keep adequate funding so military men and women currently in the service of their country are properly supplied and keep retiree insurance fees from spiraling.