Health Care 148 TriWest Healthcare Alliance (TriWest.com) a contract to administer the DoD’s next generation TRICARE program known as “T5”. TriWest previously held TRICARE contracts with the DoD from 1996 through 2013. The company’s prior experience and performance places it in solid positioning for successfully administering the next generation of T-5 contracts. Planning time is scheduled for one full year to ensure health care delivery is ready for all 9.6 million beneficiaries on day one of the new contract. What does this mean for you? The DHA has targeted January 2024 for the changes to take place. Throughout 2023, Health Net Federal Services will continue to serve as regional contractor and will continue to manage your TRICARE health plan. Stay tuned for important information about the upcoming changes by signing up for email alerts at https://publicgovdelivery.com/accounts/usmhstma/subscriber/ne w or visit Defense.gov. Also check the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) to confirm that all of your information is current. This will help make sure you won’t miss important communications regarding your TRICARE benefit. T5 BENEFITS Built into the new contract is an ongoing commitment to improving access to and quality of health care services. T-5 IS DESIGNED TO: • Supplement existing Military Treatment Facility resources with contracted networks of U.S. health care providers to achieve an “integrated health care delivery system” • Establish and maintain a robust provider network in the community • Allow TriWest Healthcare Alliance to perform tasks under a variety of categories including claims processing, management of enrollment, health care finder and referral services, customer service, medical management and clinical quality • Improve the delivery, quality, and cost of health care services for servicemembers, retirees and their families The regional contractors will do this in a variety of ways, including: • Supporting innovation and health care industry best practices • Creating efficient ways to reduce health care costs • Providing a foundation for future health care demonstrations and pilots • Improving how military hospitals and clinics and civilian care can work together to enhance patients’ health care experience OTHER TRICARE ENHANCEMENTS PHARMACY • Since Oct. 24, 2022, some 15,000 independent pharmacies departed the TRICARE retail pharmacy network. More than 90 percent of beneficiaries still have at least one network pharmacy within 15 minutes of their home. These include chain pharmacies, independent neighborhood pharmacies, grocery stores and wholesale warehouse stores. Among those remaining are pharmacies at Longs Drugs and Safeway. • Beginning Feb. 15, 2023, the TRICARE Pharmacy Program covers the Omnipod 5 insulin delivery device, including the initial kit. Omnipod 5 can be purchased through retail pharmacies only. The device isn’t available through TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery or military pharmacies. Preauthorization from your primary care manager is required. SPECIALTY PRESCRIPTIONS • Since Jan. 1, 2023, Accredo has been the primary TRICARE in-network specialty pharmacy. For more on using Accredo to fill your specialty prescription drugs, call 877882-3324 or visit Accredo.com/dodspecialty. TRICARE ELIGIBILITY • In January 2023, TRICARE eligibility was inadvertently deleted from some 13,000 Army Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) personnel records due to an error transitioning to the Army Integrated Personnel and Pay System. Army and DMDC have resolved known impacted
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