Telemental Services Helps TRICARE Patients

TRICARE Telemental Health Services Bring Patients and Providers Together Via Video

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Behavioral health care is now closer and more convenient than ever following the introduction of TRICARE’s telemental health program. TRICARE’s telemental health program uses real-time telecommunication technologies to bring behavioral health care closer to the people who need it most.

The program, which launched Aug. 1, 2009, uses medically supervised, secure audio-visual conferencing to link beneficiaries with offsite providers. TRICARE’s regional contractors have established networks of offsite providers and telemental health originating sites and are expanding these networks to increase their coverage areas. The offsite providers can evaluate, treat and refer patients as necessary by video. All aspects of behavioral health services are available to all TRICARE beneficiaries, including psychotherapy and medication management.

“Most service members and their family members who need behavioral health care still get face-to-face care in military treatment facilities or through the TRICARE network,” said Rear Adm. Christine Hunter, deputy director of the TRICARE Management Activity. “The valuable addition of telemental health care really helps us enhance our beneficiaries’ access to TRICARE’s already robust behavioral health care services.”

For more information about TRICARE’s telemental health options, go to the Getting Care link at http://tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/MentalHealthAndBehavior.

To request telemental health services in the North Region, Active Duty Service members (ADSMs) and their family members can call Health Net’s Behavioral Health Provider Locator and Appointment Assistance Line at 1-877-747-9579. All other beneficiaries should call 1-877-TRICARE (1-877-874-2273).

In the South Region, ADSMs and their families should call the Humana Military Behavioral Health Provider Locator and Appointment Assistance Line at 1-877-298-3514 for telemental health services. All other beneficiaries can call 1-800-700-8646.

In the West Region, all beneficiaries can contact TriWest’s Behavioral Health Contact Center at 1-888-TRIWEST (1-888-874-9378) for an appointment. Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Service members and their families have several additional behavioral health resources available either online or by telephone. For more information about TRICARE and the Department of Defense’s many existing behavioral health resources, download A TRICARE Guide: Understanding Behavioral Health at http://www.tricare.mil/tricaresmart.