Tricare Letter from JBER Hospital Commander 7 Feb 2020
Anchorage Area IHS Officers,
The Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) 673d Medical Group Commander recently mailed the attached memo to Anchorage U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps active duty and retired officers.
This memo notified Tricare Prime Beneficiaries of mandatory changes that take effect on March 1, 2020.
There have been numerous inquiries asking if Indian Health Service (IHS) or Commissioned Corps Headquarters (CCHQ) will be addressing these changes.
The 673d Medical Group Commander has been contacted with a request to extend the March 1 effective date.
In addition, plans are being made for a “Town Hall” type meeting to be conducted at ANMC to allow all PHS officers and interested family members the opportunity to discuss potential changes to Tricare benefits.
Additional information will be forthcoming.
Hopefully, the following information will address questions and clarify the authority for Tricare to enforce current mandatory regulations:
- This decision was made by Tricare and not Indian Health Service (IHS) or Commissioned Corps Headquarters (CCHQ)
- Tricare authorization and reimbursements are defined in federal law and regulations
- Neither IHS nor CCHQ has control over Tricare reimbursement regulations
- Starting March 1, Tricare will start enforcing the current legal guidelines that regulate Tricare reimbursement
- CCHQ will be working with Tricare for any internal administrative steps that need to be taken related to billing
- IHS Headquarters Leadership is aware of this change for Anchorage Tricare beneficiaries
These Tricare changes do not affect dental insurance coverage.
Officers – dental coverage is automatic and is through the PHS Active Duty Dental Program (PHSADDP) with coverage by Delta Dental.
Dependent dental coverage – if the officer elected and signed up for dependent dental coverage, the dental insurance plan remains with United Concordia.
For questions or additional information about the upcoming changes, officers can contact the 673d Medical Group’s Beneficiary Counseling Assistance Coordinator (BCAC) at (907) 580-2015.
Respectfully,
CAPT Martha Wanca
Western Region Commissioned Corps Liaison
Indian Health Service
Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel Support (DCPS)
4141 Ambassador Drive
Suite 300 Room 348
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone – 907-729-1308