FALLS CHURCH, Va., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Defense (DoD) has extended the waiver of pharmacy copays through Sept. 30, 2005, for beneficiaries affected by Hurricane Katrina who are unable to pay it.
In addition, TRICARE, the DoD agency that administers the military’s health plan, has been working closely with retail pharmacies and its pharmacy contractor to ensure that military evacuees maintain access to their prescription benefits.
For example, beneficiaries displaced by Hurricane Katrina may request that their prescription records at military treatment facilities in the Gulf Region be transferred to other military or retail pharmacies nationwide.
Affected beneficiaries who participate in the TRICARE mail order pharmacy program may get their prescriptions from retail pharmacies if they are unable to receive them by mail. Express Scripts Inc. (ESI), TRICARE’s pharmacy contractor, is updating patient information to include temporary mailing addresses so prescriptions will reach the beneficiaries at their new locations.
For assistance, hurricane victims may call the DoD Pharmacy Operations Center at 1-866-275-4732. They may also contact ESI at the following phone numbers for questions about the TRICARE mail order and retail pharmacy programs:
* Mail order pharmacy program, 1-866-363-8667 (1-866-DOD-TMOP)
* Retail pharmacy program, 1-866-363-8779 (1-866-DOD-TRRX)
Beneficiaries should call the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System Support Office at 1-800-538-9552 to update their family members’ information, including address changes, to maintain access to pharmacy benefits.
In addition, beneficiaries seeking information about their TRICARE benefits may call the regional contractors: Humana Military Healthcare Services (South region), 1-800-444-5445; HealthNet (North region), 1-877-874- 2273; or TriWest (West region), 1-888-874-9378, or visit the TRICARE Web site, http://www.tricare.osd.mil/katrina.
TRICARE Management Activity
CONTACT: Linda Foote, Deputy Director, Office of Communications,Communications and Customer Service, of TRICARE Management Activity,Department of Defense, Health Affairs, +1-703-681-1765, orlinda.foote@tma.osd.mil
