The Minnesota initiative is just one of many from Governors in TRICARE’s western region to ensure beneficiaries have unprecedented access to care. It’s all due to a continuing partnership between Governors in the west, the TRICARE Management Activity, and the TriWest Healthcare Alliance, the managed care support contractor for the western region.

For two years, TriWest and TRICARE program leaders have spearheaded an innovative program to collaborate with Governors in the TRICARE western region to increase the network of providers delivering care to beneficiaries. The net result is an increase from approximately 80,000 providers to over 125,000.

“This historic partnership across the western region has resulted in the largest number of providers ever signing up to participate in TRICARE in that area of the nation,” said Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, Deputy Director, TRICARE Management Activity. “This is tremendous news for the Military families and retirees who rely on TRICARE.”

Governors in the 21-state western region contacted the medical associations in their states to applaud those providers already participating in TRICARE and to encourage others to consider contracting with TriWest to deliver care to Military personnel and families in their states.

The outreach focused on ensuring a quality network of providers at a time when Congress continues to enhance TRICARE benefits for Guard and Reserve members and their families. TRICARE needs a robust network to care for beneficiaries who may not live near Military facilities, and for those who live in communities where limited Military presence means that TRICARE may not be commonly accepted.

Western region outreach efforts took shape in 2006 when Maj. Gen. Granger, TRICARE Regional Office-West Director, Rear Adm. Nancy Lescavage, and TriWest Healthcare Alliance President and CEO David McIntyre met with the Western Governors Association to encourage the Governors to assist in communicating expanded TRICARE benefits to their Guard members.

The regional effort followed an outreach program in Idaho launched earlier in 2006 by Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, who was at that time the Governor of Idaho.

“I have been tremendously impressed by the commitment of each Governor in the west in ensuring the needs of all Military families are met, especially those of the National Guard families in their States,” said RADM Lescavage. “The combination of the outstanding network development efforts of TriWest, along with the support of the Governors of our western region, has allowed us to enhance access to high quality health care for those who are serving our nation.”

Mr. McIntyre also applauded the Governors’ efforts. “They led an outreach program that is the model for the nation by encouraging the providers in their States to serve the families that are defending our nation,” he said.

“We’ve worked very hard to bolster the robust provider network in our region and the support of the elected leader in each State has been a significant encouragement for providers to join the TRICARE provider network and lend their service to their State’s citizen soldiers,” added Mr. McIntyre.

Congress has steadily improved health care benefits for citizen Service members each year since 2005. As of October 1, most members of the Selected Reserve may qualify for TRICARE Reserve Select at a monthly premium of $81 for the member, or $253 for member and family coverage. Members of the Selected Reserve can visit www.tricare.mil/trs to learn more about the benefit.