TRICARE Announces Additional Coverage

[unhappycamper]

TRICARE Announces Additional Coverage
Air Force Print News | October 17, 2007

FALLS CHURCH, Va.-- Recognizing the importance of early detection, officials from the Tricare Management Activity recently changed its policy adding coverage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging screening for women at high risk of developing breast cancer.

The American Cancer Society has clear guidelines defining high risk, which doctors can use to determine who qualifies for the coverage.

If any qualified beneficiary receives this care in the near future and it is denied, they can resubmit their claim for reimbursement.

"An MRI is a clearly superior tool for screening the highest risk women for breast cancer," said Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, the Tricare Management Activity deputy director. "We want these women to have every chance to detect any cancer at the earliest possible stages."

Breast cancer is the third most common cancer among Tricare beneficiaries and the second most common cause of cancer death for women in the United States. An individual's level of risk can be impacted by a number of factors including age, family history and race. Doctors can advise their patients of their individual risk factors, but even women of average or low risk should be vigilant.

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Anyone who meets the criteria for a breast MRI will be covered by Tricare, retroactive to March 1. If any qualified beneficiaries received this care on or after March 1, 2007 and it was denied, they can resubmit their claim for reimbursement.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,153056,00.html