1.     From the Desk of the Regional Medical Director 
 2.     TRICAREs Regional Consolidation
 3.     Introducing Humana Military
 4.     Humana Military Partners with PGBA for Claims Processing 
 5.     Humana and PGBA Offer Four Electronic Claims Submission Options 
 6.     TRICARE Retail Pharmacy Program Consolidated Under Single Contractor 
 7.     DoD Uniform Formulary Creates Three-Tiered Pharmacy Cost Structure
 8.     Beneficiaries Carry New ID and Enrollment Cards
 9.     Policy Update: Behavioral Health Care
10.    Supporting Your Local Military Treatment Facility
11.    TRICARE Brings Health Care Home
12.    Nationwide Claims Processing Established for Dual-eligible Beneficiaries
13.    Clinicians and the TRICARE Fraud Squad
14.    What's New Online
15.    TRICARE Fast Facts
 

From the Desk of the Regional Medical Director (Article 1) 
Gerald (Jerry) L. Meuhlberger, MD, MPH
       

It was 2 a.m. and I had finally managed to see my last emergency room patient. Granted, the ER at Hahn Air Base in Germany was truly more of an outpatient clinic, but, considering the day had started at 0630 the day before, I felt like I had earned my major's pay.

I had just laid my head down on the cot provided in the ‘Medical Officer of the Day’ room, when one of the medical techs sheepishly poked his head in and said “Doc, you have a patient.” Now I don't function that well at night anyway, and the first brain cells that seem to stop firing are those that deal with “caring” and “kindness,” so I was set to deliver the firmest of lectures about ER abuse.
As I entered the exam room, my expectations were confirmed as I confronted a slightly tired looking young woman carrying a cooing, playful infant. My eyes narrowed and I was about to pounce when I caught a glimpse of something in her eye that made me hesitate. Maybe it was my fatigue, maybe her young, searching appearance, but I decided to do what good docs should always do, shut up and listen.

It was a very good decision. She proceeded to tell me how her baby (her first, she was 20, first time away from home) had spit up and had a couple of loose stools. Her husband was a security policeman who worked 12-hour night shifts. She was scared and worried she might be missing something in her baby.

After examining the baby and reassuring her that everything was fine, I arranged for her to meet with her husband's first sergeant, who connected her with a support group of other mothers in the squadron.

This scenario of very young men and women dealing with being separated from loved ones and being placed in harm's way was to be repeated many times during my 30 years in the Air Force. And it's one of many reasons I'm so pleased to be able to work with you in providing for their medical care.

Allow me to take this opportunity, on their behalf, to thank each of you for the great care you provide to a very special group of people, the men and women of our military services.

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