News
TRICARE offers behavioral health support
Release Date: 3/14/2008
TRICARE offers behavioral health support
by Brian P. Smith, TriWest Healthcare Alliance
Published: Thursday, February 28, 2008 9:31 AM CST
PHOENIX - Service members and their families can meet deployment-related challenges and transitions through resources available from TRICARE, the Military Health System and TriWest Healthcare Alliance.
TRICARE Prime beneficiaries do not need a referral for the first eight routine outpatient behavioral health visits per fiscal year, Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, for most categories of behavioral health providers. Beneficiaries can avoid point-of-service charges by receiving care from a TRICARE-network provider.
Active-duty service members must have a referral from their primary care manager for all behavioral health care.
Family members using TRICARE Standard or Extra, as well as reserve component members and family members enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select will be responsible for the annual deductible as well as applicable cost-shares associated with receiving care. For most categories of clinical behavioral health providers, no referrals are necessary under TRICARE Standard, Extra or Reserve Select. After the initial eight outpatient visits each fiscal year, prior authorization from TriWest will be required. The behavioral health provider is responsible for requesting additional visits when medically necessary.
Certain categories of behavioral health providers, such as pastoral counselors, mental health counselors and licensed professional counselors, will always require a referral, even for the first eight visits.
The Behavioral Health Portal on www.triwest.com . The "Help From Home" video series includes "Getting Home ... All the Way Home," in which behavioral health experts - veterans themselves - discuss common symptoms of combat stress and the importance of early detection and treatment and "On the Homefront," featuring military families who have faced the challenges of deployment and reintegration offering practical advice for families of military service members.www.triwest.com then select Handbooks and Brochures and "Behavioral Health Care Benefits" to view a printable brochure. Visit the "Mental Health and Behavior" section at www.tricare.mil for specific coverage and associated costs.www.militarymentalhealth.org and over the phone at (877) 877-3647, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. A series of guided questions will help the beneficiary discover if there are symptoms that may benefit from treatment or further evaluation.
Other TriWest programs to help service members and their families include:
Personalized depression support and education from a clinical health coach for eligible beneficiaries through TriWest's Condition (Disease) Management program.
Continuing education to help civilian health care providers in TRICARE's West Region identify and treat symptoms of combat stress or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Annual sponsorship of Operation Purple summer camps for the children of deployed service members and wounded warriors.
A toll-free Behavioral Health Crisis Line, (866) 284-3743, recently certified by the American Association of Suicidology, and staffed around the clock by trained clinicians, providing non-emergency behavioral health assistance to West Region beneficiaries.
A Behavioral Health Provider Locator and Appointment Assistance Service number (866) 651-4970, is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in all West Region time zones to help Prime-enrolled active-duty family members find local behavioral health care providers and set appointments; active-duty service members must have a referral from their PCM before making an appointment.
Note that the Appointment Assistance Service is not a help line for treatment, counseling or advice. TRICARE beneficiaries seeking emergency behavioral health assistance should call 911, proceed to the nearest emergency room for treatment or call TriWest's Crisis Line.
For an overview of these benefits, visit the "Beneficiary Services" section on
TriWest recognizes the ongoing sacrifices of the military community and is committed to doing whatever it takes to assist service members and their families. For further assistance, contact TriWest at 888-TRIWEST (874-9378).
Members of the military can anonymously take a voluntary self-assessment test online; the Mental Health Self-Assessment Program contains assessments for mental health and alcohol use for service members and their families affected by deployment. It's offered online at www.militarymentalhealth.org and over the phone at (877) 877-3647, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. A series of guided questions will help the beneficiary discover if there are symptoms that may benefit from treatment or further evaluation.