Tricare continues medical support for Katrina victims Published Sept. 21, 2005 FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFPN) -- Tricare is continuing its efforts to ensure the more than 136,000 displaced servicemembers and family members in the Gulf Coast region have access to medical care during Hurricane Katrina recovery operations. Tricare is the Department of Defense agency responsible for managing the military’s health care plans.“We will continue to take care of our beneficiaries as we move forward into post-Katrina recovery,” said Dr. David Tornberg, acting deputy director of the Tricare Management Activity. “The health and welfare of our beneficiaries are always at the forefront of everything we do.”Tricare has implemented various initiatives to assist displaced beneficiaries with their health care needs:-- The waiver of pharmacy copays has been extended through Sept. 30 for beneficiaries affected by Hurricane Katrina who are unable to pay it.-- Humana Military Health Services, Tricare’s regional contractor in the Gulf region, dispatched staff to various evacuee sites to provide one-on-one counseling for affected beneficiaries. They are advising them how to access care and answer questions about their health benefit options.-- On Sept. 12, Tricare delivered materials such as wallet cards, fact sheets and benefit overviews to evacuee sites, military treatment facilities and Tricare service centers. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule, providers at MTFs and in the Tricare network may share Katrina-affected patients’ information with other providers as necessary to provide care.This includes sharing prescriptions, lab results and X-rays with other providers, hospitals and clinics; referring patients for treatment in areas where they have relocated; and coordinating care with others, such as emergency relief workers, to find appropriate health services for patients.Tricare is continuously re-evaluating its ongoing relief efforts and partnering with its regional contractors to ensure beneficiaries’ needs are being met, officials said. If future relief programs or extensions of current efforts are needed, Tricare will make those decisions as necessary to help beneficiaries recover from the hurricane.Beneficiaries should call the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System Support Office at 800-538-9552 to update their family members’ information, including address changes, to maintain access to Tricare benefits.In addition, beneficiaries seeking information about their Tricare benefits may call the regional contractors: Humana Military Healthcare Services (south region), 800-444-5445; HealthNet (north region), 877-874-2273; or TriWest (west region), 888-874-9378, or visit the Tricare Web site at www.tricare.osd.mil/katrina. Beneficiary counseling and assistance coordinators, debt collection assistance officers, TRICARE service centers and family support representatives at local military installations are also available to help active duty military personnel and their families. Other resources available include Military One Source at 800-342-9647 or www.militaryonesource.com.