Military life can be stressful for service members and their families. Helping your TRICARE patients recognize behavioral and
emotional changes and referring them for behavioral health care can be an important first step in meeting their overall health care needs.    

All TRICARE beneficiaries (except for active duty service members, who require a referral for all behavioral health care) may self-refer for the first eight outpatient behavioral health visits. Note: TRICARE Prime beneficiaries must see a network provider. However, most patients experiencing behavioral health symptoms first seek care from their primary care manager. If a patient
comes to you with symptoms that you believe would be improved by seeing a behavioral health provider, you are
encouraged to contact ValueOptions to request a referral. 

It is important to prioritize your referral request to best meet the needs of the patient. TRICARE referrals for specialty care fall into three categories:

• Urgent referrals: for care needed within 24 hours
• Referrals for care needed within 72 hours
• Routine referrals: for care needed within four weeks

For behavioral health referrals, contact ValueOptions at 1-800-700-8646.

  
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Created: November 15, 2007