New Urgent Care Pilot Program for Prime Beneficiaries Published May 17, 2016 By Staff Reports 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- To increase access to care, the Department of Defense is launching an Urgent Care Pilot Program for TRICARE Prime beneficiaries, beginning May 23. This program allows prime members two visits to a network or TRICARE authorized provider without a referral or prior authorization. The Urgent Care Pilot Program is for: · Active-duty family members enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Prime Remote. · Retirees and their family members who are enrolled in Prime within the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. · Active-duty service members enrolled in TRICARE Prime Remote and stationed overseas but traveling stateside ADSMs enrolled in TRICARE Prime are not eligible for this program as their care is managed by their service. This pilot also excludes Uniformed Services Family Health Plan members. TRICARE Overseas Program members can receive an unlimited number of urgent care visits, but only when they are traveling stateside and seeking care. There are no point of service deductibles or cost shares for these two urgent care visits, but network co-payments still apply. Once a patient receives urgent care, they must notify their primary care provider about that care within 24 hours or the first business day after the urgent care visit. Authorization requirements have not changed for follow-up care, specialty care or inpatient care. When unsure of the type of care needed, or care required outside of standard business hours, call the Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-TRICARE. If the NAL recommends an urgent care visit, and a referral is submitted, that visit will not count against the two pre-authorized visits allowed under the Urgent Care Pilot. However, if they call the NAL and get a referral to a military hospital or clinic and they go elsewhere for care, that visit will count against the two pre-authorized visits. For more information, visit the Urgent Care Pilot Program web page on the TRICARE website.