Do you live in the West Region? Do you have TRICARE Prime? You should know that the Defense Health Agency has extended the West Region referral approval waiver through June 30. TRICARE-authorized specialty care providers don’t need to wait for TriWest Healthcare Alliance to approve referrals issued by your primary care manager before providing outpatient care.

Do you currently live in the TRICARE West Region? Do you pay for your TRICARE coverage using a bank electronic funds transfer, credit card, or debit card? If you haven’t done so already, you must securely provide your payment information to the West Region contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, by April 30. If you haven’t submitted payment to TriWest by April 30, you and your family members will be disenrolled from your TRICARE plan on May 1. This disenrollment is retroactive to your paid-through date.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Spring is one of the most important times of year to become “tick smart” by learning about the risks ticks pose and how to avoid tick bites.

Did you know that Saturday, April 26, is the next National Drug Take Back Day? It’s a day to safely dispose of unwanted, expired, or excess medications. But it’s also important to know that military pharmacies offer ways to safely dispose of drugs all year long through the Military Health System Drug Take Back program.

A base initiative is transforming the way 16 Air Force osteopathic medical residents receive their training. Through a collaborative effort with St. Louis University, St. Elizabeth’s and SIHF Healthcare, Air Force osteopathic residents are undergoing a comprehensive three-year training program, which is a departure from the conventional medical training path.

Team Scott is embracing a “Targeted Care” mental health initiative, which is a newly installed Air Force-wide program prioritizing the well-being of service members. This initiative aims to expedite specialized mental health appointments at each member’s local clinic, but also optimize the quality of care for each individual patient.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL - On July 23, 2021 the 375th Dental Squadron will deactivate and will no longer be accepting dependents and retirees for regular treatment. The 375th DS will continue to operate as a flight under the 375th Operation Medical Readiness Squadron providing active-duty members with continued dental treatment.

The 375th Medical Group deployed 39 medics between April and June 2021 to the Community Vaccination Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul as the Advanced Operational Node team members in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency response to battle COVID-19.

TRICARE covers age-appropriate doses of vaccines, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Need technical assistance with accessing the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal? Beneficiaries are encouraged to contact the Defense Manpower Data Center web support.

This video is an introduction to the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal.

Are you feeling anxious or on edge? TRICARE covers mental health services that can help.