Accessing civilian health care during the government shutdown for TRICARE beneficiaries - During the current lapse in government appropriations, you may continue to get care or attend currently scheduled appointments with your civilian providers. Your usual out-of-pocket costs will apply. You may also continue to fill prescriptions at military pharmacies, retail network pharmacies, and home delivery. However, TRICARE may not be able to process or pay medical claims for services received until funding is restored. The Defense Health Agency is also working with our TRICARE contractors to communicate with healthcare providers on potential delays in payment. If you are denied care or informed services are suspended, please contact TRICARE East customer service Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 6 PM (ET and CT) at (800) 444-5445.
 
For more information, visit https://www.tricare.mil/shutdown

Getting Care

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

HIPAA is the acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The Department of Health & Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for enforcing HIPAA Privacy and HIPAA Security Rules.

The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides federal protections for individually identifiable health information held by covered entities and their business associates, and gives you (the patient) an array of rights with respect to that information. At the same time, the Privacy Rule is balanced so that it permits the disclosure of health information needed for your care and other important purposes. Click here to learn more.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule also gives you the right to be informed of the privacy practices of your health plans and healthcare providers, as well as to be informed of your individual rights with respect to your protected health information (PHI). The Notice of Privacy Practices (NoPP) requirements as set forth by the HIPAA Privacy Rule are codified at 45 C.F.R. Part 164.520 and further implemented within the Military Health System (MHS) by DoD 6025.18-R.

Click here to view and download the MHS NoPP (available in several languages).

To file a HIPAA complaint or report a privacy violation, click here.

Don't forget to keep your family's information up to date in DEERS!