Tricare South Region begins transition August 1

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WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Department of Defense officials announced July 28 the continuation of its move toward new military health-care contractors and changes in regional areas of responsibility.

On Aug. 1, Tricare-eligible beneficiaries in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee transition to the Tricare South Region. These locations formerly comprised the Southeast and Gulf South Regions (Regions 3 and 4). This is the third major transition to new regions and new contracts announced by the department, including the initial transition of parts of the West Region on June 1 and parts of the North Region on July 1.

"Through these new and competitively awarded contracts we offer our beneficiaries a suite of services that provide the highest quality of care and a high level of customer service,” said Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.

Tricare benefits, costs and the enrollment process remain the same under the new regional contracts. Beneficiaries in the South Region who are not currently enrolled in Tricare Prime, but who are eligible and residing in a Prime area, will have the opportunity to enroll. Humana Military Healthcare Services Inc. will provide beneficiaries information on enrollment, network providers, procedures for filing claims, and contacts for assistance in the South Region.

Beneficiaries in Arkansas, the remaining part of Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas -- except for the far western part of the state -- will complete the Tricare South Region when they transition Nov. 1.

Military treatment facilities in all regions remain at the core of the military health system, said officials, and will now schedule appointments for their beneficiaries. Military treatment facility locations are on the Tricare Web site at http://www.Tricare.osd.mil/mtf/.

Humana has worked with the DOD as a Tricare regional managed care support contractor since 1996. Under the next generation of Tricare contracts, Humana will provide health-care services and support to about 2.86 million beneficiaries in the new Tricare South Region. Beneficiaries in the South Region may access health-care information by calling Humana at (800) 444-5445 or online at http://www.humana-military.com/.