PNHP

TRICARE is coming up short for our military and their families

TRICARE Multiyear Surveys Indicate Problems with Access to Care for Nonenrolled Beneficiaries

Government Accountability Office (GAO), April 2013

In fiscal year 2012, the Department of Defense (DOD) offered health care services, including mental health care services, to about 9.7 million eligible beneficiaries in the United States and abroad through TRICARE, DODā€™s regionally structured health care program.

The number and type of civilian providers available to serve TRICARE beneficiaries can vary depending on a beneficiaryā€™s location and choice of coverage among TRICAREā€™s three basic plansā€”TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Standard, and TRICARE Extra. We use the term ā€œnonenrolled beneficiariesā€ for beneficiaries who are not enrolled in TRICARE Prime and who use the TRICARE Standard or Extra options, or TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS).

Nearly one in three nonenrolled beneficiaries experienced problems accessing care, and they rated their satisfaction with care generally lower than Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries.

Nearly one in three nonenrolled beneficiaries experienced problems finding civilian providers who would accept TRICARE. Those in PSAs (Prime Service Areas with TRICARE Provider networks) experience more problems finding primary and specialty care than those in non-PSAs.

Civilian providers’ acceptance of new TRICARE patients has decreased over time. Mental health providers report lower awareness and acceptance than other provider types.

http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/653487.pdf

Comment:

By Don McCanne, M.D.

TRICARE is a health care service program for active duty military, their dependents, and military retirees – a program that is particularly important for those who cannot use military health facilities nor the VA system. The results of this survey should make us ashamed of how we treat the military and their dependents.

Straight to the point, if we had a single, comprehensive health care system that served everyone and included all health care professionals and institutions, this report would not have been necessary. We really do need an improved Medicare that includes everyone.