We want to evaluate the collaboration between our MTFs, the regional contractors and civilian emergency departments. The outcome may enable us to consider operational and financial changes needed to:

• Optimize the capabilities of the direct care system
• Support medical readiness
• Enhance MTF provider efficiency and graduate medical education programs
• Steward taxpayer dollars
• Reduce beneficiary costs
• Enhance beneficiary satisfaction

Beneficiaries will need to decide based on their individual scenario. They may already have a doctor at the MTF they prefer to see or maybe they are using TRICARE Standard and Extra and moving to an MTF will save them money.

A transfer won’t be recommended unless the patient is clinically stable and doctors at both facilities agree to the transfer. Ultimately, it’s a personal decision, and beneficiaries should consider:

• The rules for their health plan (i.e. TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Standard, TRICARE For Life)
• The type of care they need and how long they may be admitted
• Which facility is more convenient for them (closer to home, etc.)
• Costs for the care at a civilian facility compared to the MTF

Each MTF will establish its own process, but basically:

• The civilian facility will contact the MTF Patient Transfer Hotline
• The MTF decides if they will accept the transfer within 30 minutes
• Patient transport is arranged within 30 minutes

MTFs and regional contractors will work with neighboring civilian facilities to inform them about the process and provide educational materials about the pilot.

For more information, contact a participating MTF using the links listed in the chart above.

For the pilot, if either the civilian facility or the MTF makes the request, it is considered an "order" and allows TRICARE to cost share for the ambulance transport to the MTF. >>View Health Plan Costs

In some locations, the MTF may arrange for a contracted ambulance service at no cost to the beneficiary.