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TRICARE Overseas Program Provider Manual

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<strong>TRICARE</strong> overseas <strong>Program</strong><br />

<strong>Provider</strong> <strong>Manual</strong><br />

Authorization Forms (continued)<br />

Authorizations for Cases of Pregnancy<br />

All care related to pregnancy and childbirth is covered by one<br />

referral from the MTF. Authorization Forms will be issued to for<br />

365 days to the OB/GYN or Medical Practitioner covering care. If<br />

any pregnancy and childbirth care (e.g., ultrasound scans) is to<br />

be conducted by other <strong>Provider</strong>s, additonal Authorization Forms<br />

may be requested. The beneficiary or <strong>Provider</strong> should contact<br />

International SOS directly to request additional Authorization<br />

Forms.<br />

Patient Records and Privacy<br />

International SOS Network <strong>Provider</strong>s must maintain medical<br />

health records for all <strong>TRICARE</strong> beneficiaries they treat. These<br />

records should be protected as stipulated by an addendum to<br />

the Mutual Cooperation Protocol.<br />

When possible, Network <strong>Provider</strong>s should provide English<br />

language summaries of their records for inclusion in the patient’s<br />

U.S. military medical records. If you have any questions or need<br />

assistance in maintaining these records, please contact your TOP<br />

Regional Call Center or International SOS.<br />

Emergency Assistance Treatment and Authorizations and<br />

Payment<br />

If a TOP Prime or TOP Prime Remote beneficiary is unable to<br />

contact International SOS before receiving emergency care, then<br />

no Authorization Form or Authorization Number will be issued.<br />

The medical services rendered will be authorized retrospectively.<br />

Authorization Forms are not required to treat beneficiaries for<br />

Emergency Care. However, the words ‘Emergency Care’ or<br />

‘Emergency Room’ must be written on the Claim Form or Itemized<br />

Invoice so that these claims are processed without an<br />

Authorization Number. Please refer to the TOP <strong>Provider</strong><br />

Emergency Care brief available at www.tricare-overseas.com<br />

for more information on how to receive retrospective authorization<br />

and submit your Emergency Care claims on behalf of TOP Prime<br />

or TOP Prime Remote beneficiaries.<br />

Clear and Legible Reporting: Issuing a Medical Report<br />

Following Patient Care<br />

After providing care to a <strong>TRICARE</strong> beneficiary, please send a<br />

medical report of your findings and/or treatment to the referring<br />

party. The Authorization Form will clearly indicate whether this<br />

should be returned to your local MTF (for TOP Prime<br />

beneficiaries) or International SOS (for TOP Prime Remote<br />

beneficiaries).<br />

Cultural Differences and Host<br />

Nation Patient Liaisons<br />

Health care delivery in the United States may vary from local<br />

overseas practices. Language is the most obvious and<br />

challenging difference. Even if your English language skills are<br />

considered strong, it is important that any care instructions are<br />

clear and fully understood by the patient. You should be aware,<br />

language differences may discourage some patients from asking<br />

questions when they don’t understand.<br />

U.S. patients may have a high degree of modesty and find<br />

cultural differences in personal privacy to be uncomfortable,<br />

particularly in the hospital setting. Curtains or privacy screens are<br />

expected in hospital rooms and examination rooms in the U.S.,<br />

and U.S. patients may find it very difficult to undress (to any<br />

degree) without them.<br />

To help make care more comfortable for <strong>TRICARE</strong> beneficiaries,<br />

most MTFs use one or more host nation patient liaisons. These<br />

liaisons are fluent in English as well as the local language, and<br />

are familiar with how the host nation health care system works.<br />

Their primary role is to assist U.S. patients in a hospital setting.<br />

They may also be used to assist with particularly difficult<br />

outpatient situations.<br />

You may already have an existing relationship with your local host<br />

nation patient liaison. You can be assured that this relationship<br />

will not be interrupted or changed in any way with TOP.<br />

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