Authorized Behavioral Health Care Providers

• Certified psychiatric nurse specialists are licensed, master’s-level psychiatric nurses with an additional American Nurses Association certification in behavioral health care. They perform psychotherapy and manage medications.
• Mental health, licensed professional, and pastoral counselors have a master’s degree in counseling. They perform counseling and psychotherapy services but cannot prescribe medication. In order to provide services to TRICARE beneficiaries, these providers require written physician referral and ongoing clinical supervision from a doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) prior to your initial visit.
• Certified marriage and family therapists have a master’s degree in counseling, with an emphasis on family and marriage therapy. They perform individual counseling and family and marriage therapy but cannot prescribe medication.
• Licensed clinical social workers have a master’slevel degree in social work, with additional training in psychotherapy and counseling. They perform psychotherapy and counseling services but cannot prescribe medication.
• Clinical psychologists have a doctoral-level degree (doctor of philosophy or doctor of psychology) in psychology. They perform psychotherapy, psychological testing, and counseling services but usually cannot prescribe medication.
• Psychiatrists are physicians who have a general medical degree (MD or DO) and have completed advanced residency training in psychiatry. Most psychiatrists treat persons with more serious disturbances for which medication is helpful (e.g., Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). Psychiatrists perform psychotherapy, manage medication, and work in collaboration with the provider types listed above.

If you are unsure about the type of provider that would best meet your needs, visit TRICARE's Mental Health and Behavior web page for more information.

Emergency and inpatient hospital services are considered medically necessary only when the patient’s condition is such that the personnel and facilities of a hospital are required. All treatment for substance use disorders requires prior authorization from Humana Military.

For additional information about covered and non-covered behavioral health care services and to learn how to access care, visit TRICARE's Mental Health and Behavior web portal.
           

TRICARE Assistance Program

The TRICARE Assistance Program (TRIAP) is a Web-based program available to eligible beneficiaries, including TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra beneficiaries in the United States. ADSMs and their spouses of any age are eligible, but dependent family members must be 18 or older. TRIAP uses audio-visual and instant messaging features to provide online access to behavioral health care counseling for short-term, non-medical issues. You can contact licensed professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

TRIAP enables you to have a private, solution-focused discussion with a counselor about many personal life issues, including:

• Stress management (work, family, personal)
• Family difficulties and pressures
• Deployments and other family separations
• Relationships and marriage
• Parent-child communication
• Self-esteem

TRIAP services do not require referrals or authorizations, but you will need a phone and a computer. You may access TRIAP an unlimited number of times, and services are confidential and non-reportable (not documented on your military record). TRIAP does not provide medication management, financial services, or emergency care. For more information and to learn about your region’s technology requirements, visit Humana Military's TRIAP information.
        

Telemental Health Program

The Telemental Health program uses secure audio-visual conferencing to connect eligible beneficiaries, including TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra beneficiaries in the United States, with offsite TRICARE network providers. Telemental Health provides medically necessary behavioral health care services, including:

• Clinical consultation
• Individual psychotherapy
• Psychiatric, diagnostic interview examination
• Medication management

Telemental Health interaction may involve live, two-way audio-visual visits between patients and medical professionals. Beneficiaries can access Telemental Health services at TRICARE-authorized Telemental Health-participating facilities by using a telecommunications system to contact TRICARE network providers at remote locations.

Behavioral health care limitations, authorization requirements, deductibles, and cost-shares apply. For more information, visit TRICARE's Mental Health and Behavior web portal.

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