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MEDICAL CARE ELIGIBILITY

NON AVAILABILITY STATEMENT (NAS) REQUIREMENTS

TRICARE Standard beneficiaries are encouraged to check with a Beneficiary Councilor Assistance Coordinator (BCAC) before receiving civilian care to see if they need a non availability statement (NAS) and what their share of the cost will be.

If you live near a military hospital (goes by your ZIP code where you reside), TRICARE requires that you use the military facility for non emergency inpatient care.  If care is not available and is medically necessary, an NAS will be issued from the military hospital.  Without an NAS, TRICARE will not share the costs for civilian care. EXCEPTION:  If you have primary health insurance that pays before TRICARE, you do not need an NAS.

NOTE:  TRICARE is required to determine if the recommended care is considered medically necessary.  (This process is referred to as PRE CERTIFICATION and should not be confused with applying for an NAS).  For more information about TRICARE or NASs, please contact a Beneficiary Councilor Assistance Coordinator (BCAC) at any of the military hospitals, clinics, or the TRICARE Service Center.

FLEET LIAISON INFORMATION

Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth offers four liaison offices: Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Coast Guard.  These offices are here to serve their respective service members in everything from questions on a member's care, patient's access, pay problems, and berthing concerns, just to name a few.  If you become an inpatient, expect a bedside visit by the liaison representative from your branch of the service.  If you have any concerns while you are at this facility, please feel free to contact your service representative.  Office hours are 0700-1530.

NAVY	953-7540
COAST GUARD	953-7576
MARINE CORPS	953-5877
ARMY	953-5532

NAVY LIAISON OFFICE

The Navy Liaison Office is responsible for providing assistance to Navy commands; acts as liaison between civilian facilities and the active duty member's parent command; and provides specialty appointments for units that are in a deployable status.  The Navy Liaison Office provides up-to-date status reports on patient's conditions, both in the military treatment facility and in civilian facilities; active duty members in Veteran's Administration facility; and those members in a rehabilitative program.

EMERGENCIES

When you are admitted to a civilian facility, whether in town or out of town, and you are:

1.  Active duty, please phone the Navy Liaison Office or have your parent command notify the office at 953-7540.  The office can assist in your transfer to a military medical facility.  Medical bills are processed through the Office of Medical Affairs, Great Lakes, IL.  You will need to take your bill to the medical department after discharge to file the appropriate forms so that it can be forwarded for payment.

2.  A dependent or retiree under age 65 should notify the facility they are CHAMPUS eligible.  You may contact the Beneficiary Councilor Assistance Coordinator (BCAC) Office if you have questions concerning eligibility. True emergencies do not require a non availability statement.  Your physician should justify the emergency with medical documentation to the fiscal intermediary so that your bills can be processed.

3.  A retiree over age 65 is covered under Medicare.  Only a few exceptions apply.  Medicare is your primary insurance.  Should you require assistance interpreting your bills after discharge, please stop by the Beneficiary Councilor Assistance Coordinator (BCAC) office.

MEDEVAC

All MEDEVACs are coordinated through our MEDEVAC office.  When you arrive you will be told to check in with the Navy Liaison Office, regardless of service affiliation.  After the physician makes a disposition you may be admitted, sent to medical holding company, or referred to your parent command via the MEDEVAC system.  You must report back to the Navy Liaison Office to inform them of the physician's decision.  If you are admitted or referred to a medical holding company, your service specific liaison will provide you with any assistance required.  Should you be referred  into the MEDEVAC system, you may stay overnight in transient berthing until a flight is available. Medevac Patient Admin Department: 953-1520/22.

ORGAN DONATION

Requests for organ/tissue donation will be honored upon death per a donor card.  If a donor card has not been executed, the primary next-of-kin will make the decision for a donation after receiving guidance from the medical staff and /or LIFENET coordinator at 682-1318.

For additional information or to obtain donation forms, contact the Decedent Affairs Division at 953-2617/2618 .  

MEDICAL RECORDS

Patient medical records are privileged information and legal documents.  Never read another patient's record or take such records from any official file or other location without the permission of a hospital official.

Dental Clinic Records	953-2711/12
Inpatient Records	953-5416/17
Outpatient Records:	953-2575/78/79/80
Staff Medical Records	953-2590

DISCHARGE PLANNING/CASE MANAGEMENT

Discharge Planners/Case Managers are available to provide the following services:  assist in locating community resources/agencies, support groups, arrangements for home healthcare to help you recuperate in the comfort of your own home, assist with nursing home placements/adult care, arrangements for medical equipment (oxygen, wheelchairs, etc.) and follow up to ensure your plan of care is working.  Discharge Planners/Case Managers can be contacted at 953-7499/7500.

Last Updated: 06-Jul-2006