Tricare to allow medical visits to local physicians

[unhappycamper]

Tricare to allow medical visits to local physicians
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, May 8, 2008

WASHINGTON — Overseas servicemembers with a serious illness or injury no longer must travel to distant military treatment facilities if closer, quicker medical help is available.

Under changes made to Tricare policies, troops and their families can use local clinics and physicians when the nearest military treatment facilities (MTF) is short-staffed or too far away for quick response, provided they get advance permission.

The new rules apply to families not covered under the Tricare Global Remote Overseas program, but instead attached to a treatment facility at a military installation.

Tricare spokeswoman Bonnie Powell said the changes involve urgent medical needs, such as sprains, muscle injuries or illnesses that could become hazardous, as opposed to life-threatening emergencies or routine medical visits.

Under current rules, routine appointments still must be handled by military personnel at the nearest MTF. In life-threatening situations, patients are instructed to go to the nearest medical facility regardless of cost.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54621

[unhappycamper]

1. 5.11 correction in Stripes:

Correction
Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, May 10, 2008

The May 8 story about Tricare allowing medical visits to local physicians should have said the new rules apply only to active-duty troops.