TRICARE urgent care initiative launches at Dyess

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Allen Solenberg
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Because you never know when you might sprain an ankle or your child will come down with an ear ache, TRICARE is launching an urgent care initiative at Dyess Air Force Base.

TRICARE Prime beneficiaries enrolled to the 7th Medical Group at Dyess must now call 1 (800) 444-5445 to request an authorization for urgent care either after hours or out-of-area. Urgent care services are those required for illnesses or injuries that would not result in further disability or death if not treated immediately.

"To seek urgent care, Dyess TRICARE Prime beneficiaries must call the Health Care Finder line," said Lt. Col. Debra Notturno-Strong, 7th Medical Support Squadron commander. "Heading to any walk-in care clinics after work will no longer be an option. People who try to avoid this change in TRICARE policies may end up paying the bill themselves."

Health Care Finder lines are available, at a minimum, from 4 to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Callers seeking authorization for routine care will be referred back to their medical treatment facility of enrollment for instructions.

"The HCF lines are manned until 8 p.m. daily to ensure our servicemembers can and will receive the proper level of attention as quickly as possible," Colonel Notturno-Strong added.

Beneficiaries should always call their primary care manager 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for any required authorizations. During normal duty hours, the appointment line can be reached by calling (325) 696-4677 or DSN 461-4677. The HCF line is only meant to bridge the urgent care gap and provide authorization after hours or when traveling.

If a beneficiary is traveling out of his or her primary service area (anywhere in the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska), care can be authorized and provider locator services will be provided, by calling 1 (800) 444-5445, if the care request is considered urgent.

This initiative is intended to test improved urgent care referral access to reduce emergency room visits and health care costs for all TRICARE beneficiaries.