Mil.fams, retirees med changes

Military families and retirees receiving care at 38 (unidentified) military hospitals nationwide will soon be forced to go off-base instead, and some pharmacies at those hospitals will stop providing drugs to those not on active duty, Military.com has learned. A 12-page memo was sent to the commanders of 50 military treatment facilities (MTFs) targeted for changes. It details planned MTF restructuring, the subject of an upcoming report to Congress. It also includes a letter explaining upcoming changes, signed by Lt. Gen. Ronald Pace, who directs the Defense Health Agency. The changes are a part of a review of MTF operations and a system consolidation under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) ordered by Congress in 2016 to eliminate medical personnel. But to do so, hospitals must cut out the number of family members and retirees to whom they currently offer care. The memo does not include locations of the 50 affected MTFs, or a timeline for the changes. Under a section of the document noted as "not for public release," the memo lays out a proposed plan to "reduce operations at 48 facilities and to expand or recapitalize operations at two others." At 38 of those 50 MTFs, "DoD recommends reducing the scope of operations to active duty and occupational health services only, while in many cases maintaining pharmacy services for all beneficiaries," it states. "It is estimated about 200,000 beneficiaries who receive care at those MTFs … will transition to civilian providers" in the Tricare network. That means some of those facilities may stop offering pharmacy support for users not on active duty. On-base pharmacies are currently the only way for all Tricare beneficiaries, including elderly Tricare for Life enrollees, to receive no-cost, same-day medications. Some military retirees and their families will also see increased out-of-pocket costs, the memo notes. (Source: Military.com 02/07/10) https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/02/07/more-3-dozen-military-hospitals-stop-treating-retirees-families-memo-shows.html.