Health Care 152 ery is ready for all 9.6 million beneficiaries on day one of the new contract. What does this mean for you? Again, the DHA has targeted 2025 for the changes to take place. Throughout 2024, Health Net Federal Services (HNFS.com) continues to serve as regional contractor and 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/new 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. T-5 BENEFITS Built into the new T-5 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. • Since Feb. 15, 2023, the TRICARE Pharmacy Program has covered 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. Pre-authorization from your primary care manager is required. If you decide to kick the habit, TRICARE covers products and services to help you become tobacco-free. To learn more, find details at Tricare.mil/Publications/FactSheets/tobacco_cessation. Also check the Department of Defense You Can Quit 2 program at ycq2.org that offers coaching, online tools, and in-person support locators to help you quit tobacco. You can also call your local military hospital or clinic at Tricare.mil/mtf to see if it offers tobacco cessation programs. SPECIALTY PRESCRIPTIONS Effective March 1, 2024, those filling specialty drugs through TRICARE Home Delivery will begin to receive expanded specialty pharmacy services from Accredo Health Group (Accredo.com/dodspecialty) as part of the Express Scripts, Inc (ESI) contracted TRICARE network. For new prescriptions with Accredo: • Ask your doctor to send your prescription electronically to Accredo. Once your prescription is ready, a patient care advocate will call you to set up your patient profile and schedule delivery of your medication. For current prescriptions: • Log in to your Express Scripts account at Express-Scripts.com/login/tricare to
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==