TRICARE Manuals - Display Chap 18 Sect 10 (Change 138, May 21, 2024) (2024)

1.0BACKGROUND

Consistent with this requirement,TRICARE is implementing a pilot to use appointing and referral centersto simplify the process of receiving referrals for care and makingappointments.

2.0DESCRIPTIONAND OVERVIEW

The Governmentwill create a referral and appointing center located at one pilotsite to be detailed in the contract modification.

2.1The RACwill serve as a “one number” center for all specialty care appointingfor TRICARE Prime patients when the referral is generated by a providerat a Market/Military Treatment Facility (MTF) in the pilot PrimeService Area (PSA).

2.2 These requirements apply onlyto the managed care support contract(s) Managed Care Support Contractors(MCSC). Impact on Market/Military Treatment Facility (MTF) localcontracts will be addressed by the Market/MTF.

2.3The pilotwill be eight weeks in length. The Government may negotiate additionaltime with the contractor at a future date.

3.0Policy

3.1The RACswill receive all TRICARE Prime referrals written by providers atMTFs in the pilot PSA. The appointing and referral center will determinewhether the specialty care will be provided at a direct care facilityor will be referred to the TRICARE network. If the care is referredto the TRICARE network, the RAC will transmit the referral to thecontractor using existing systems (Referral Management System (RMS)or MHS Genesis).

3.2For referrals received by thecontractor by 1500 hours local time (local time is based on thepilot PSA), the contractor shall process and authorize the referralby 0700 hours local time the next business day. If the referralis received after 1500 hours or on a non-business day, the contractorshall process and authorize the referral by 0700 hours on the secondbusiness day after the referral is received. For example, if thereferral is received on Saturday, the contractor shall process andauthorize the referral no later than 0700 the following Tuesday(assuming Monday is not a federal holiday). If the referral does nothave enough information for the contractor to process, the contractorshall communicate that fact back to the Market/MTF along with whatinformation is needed for the contractor to complete the authorizationand approval letter. For referrals sent by 1500 hours local time,the contractor shall accomplish said communication to the RAC by0700 hours the next business day. For referrals sent after 1500hours, the contractor shall accomplish communication to the RACby 0700 hours the second business day. The contractor shall processreferral requests in accordance with pilot guidelines when DEERSor any other required Government system is unavailable. The Governmentexpects referrals during down time to meet pilot process timelinesonce the system(s) returns online and the contractor becomes awareof the referral or authorization request. The contractor shall notifythe Government when it encounters outages or disruptions.

3.3The contractorshall generate an authorization and/or approval letter. In the letter,the contractor shall identify at least one and up to three networkproviders (when available) who have the capability to provide theservice required by the referral. The contractor shall upload theauthorization and/or letter into the Government-MCSC interfacingsystem, using established referral management processes. See Chapter 8, Section 5. When the contractorsMedical Management System architecture is such that only one servicingprovider can be added to the initial approval letter or uploadedto the interfacing portal, the contractor is permitted to developworkarounds with the Government that would meet the requirementto identify three providers.

3.4The contractorshall upload the approval letter, authorization and identified networkproviders to the MCSC portal, consistent with established processes.

3.5The referringMarket/MTF provider will direct the beneficiary to call the RACto schedule an appointment. The RAC will call the first providerlisted on the approval letter and determine if the provider hasthe capacity to provide the care within TRICARE access standards.If so, the RAC will then perform a warm hand off with the beneficiaryand the provider’s office. If the first provider on the list is notable to provide the needed care within access standards, the RACwill call the second, and if needed, third provider on the list.

3.6If noneof the providers listed has the capacity, the RAC will contact thecontractor and request additional network providers (or if no networkproviders are available, a non-network provider consistent withexisting policy) to assist the beneficiary in making an appointment.The contractor shall provide additional providers within one businessday of receiving the request from the RAC. If the contractor isunable to provide additional providers within one business day thecontractor shall communicate this to the Government and notify theGovernment as soon as it becomes aware of appropriate additionalproviders. The RAC may use the provider directory when the contractorcannot provide additional providers. The contractor shall identityand submit up to three non-network providers in lieu of networkproviders, when network providers lack capacity or capability.

3.8The Governmentreserves the right to add additional pilot sites in the future.

4.0EFFECTIVE DATE

The pilot will be effectiveon February 1, 2021. The Government will determine the exact startdate in February in conjunction with the contractor and includethe information in the contract modification.

5.0Exclusions