TRICARE Prime outpatient referral waiver in effect Published Jan. 1, 2018 By Staff Reports 22 Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- The Defense Health Agency has temporarily waived specialty referral and authorization requirements for TRICARE West Region beneficiaries enrolled in a TRICARE Prime plan. Beneficiaries enrolled in a TRICARE Prime plan, do not need Health Net Federal Services LLC approval for outpatient TRICARE-covered services referred by providers Jan. 1 to March 18, with the exception of inpatient care, and applied behavior analysis, laboratory developed tests and Extended Health Care Option services. For outpatient requests providers do not need to submit requests to HNFS for approval during the waiver period; the TRICARE West Region Referral and Authorization Waiver is verification of approval. HNFS will not be issuing separate approvals for services covered under the waiver. How to initiate care during waiver period through March 18, 2018 TRICARE Prime beneficiaries may seek covered outpatient services from any TRICARE-authorized provider, network or non-network, with the following documentation: • A written referral or order for covered procedures, services or equipment from their provider dated between Jan. 1 and March 18. • A copy of the TRICARE West Region Referral/Authorization Waiver Approval Letter from their provider. Referrals issued by providers Jan. 1 to March 18 are valid through June 15. For care referred during the waiver period that extends beyond June 15 your provider must submit a request to HNFS for approval. HNFS will resume accepting referral and authorization requests for TRICARE Prime patients on March 19. Referrals issued after March 19 must follow TRICARE Prime guidelines or Point of Service charges may apply. For more information and frequently asked questions, visit the TRICARE West Region website.