AAFP Encourages Participation in Military's Health Plan

AAFP Board Chair Larry Fields, M.D., of Flatwoods, Ky., is encouraging all Academy members who haven't yet done so to consider signing on as providers for TRICARE, the U.S. military health plan.

"I would ask all of our members who have military personnel and their dependents in their communities to accept TRICARE insurance as a way of assisting the men and women in uniform who are protecting our country, so at least they don't have to worry about their loved ones back home," said Fields.

Fields' call to action comes at the request of Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director of TRICARE management activity. In a Sept. 28 letter to the Academy, Granger expressed concern that some TRICARE beneficiaries -- especially National Guard and Reserves family members -- couldn't find physicians who would accept TRICARE patients.

"I am calling on our members to make a sacrifice for the troops," said Fields, adding that TRICARE's system has caused hassles for some participating physicians.

"I realize that there are problems with TRICARE, and I want any family physician who answers the call to serve TRICARE members to be fully aware that TRICARE has issues to address to make its program more physician-friendly," he said.

In an Oct. 26 response letter to Granger, Fields pointed out some reasons members have given for why they are reluctant to participate in the program, including

"The administrative complexities of the TRICARE program defeat even those who are willing to participate despite the payment problems," said Fields in the letter.

In his appeal to family physicians Fields said, "Members need to know that the Academy is working with TRICARE and Maj. Gen. Granger to try and solve some of these problems with the payment system. In addition, TRICARE has been supportive of the Academy in its broad-scope efforts to change the health care payment system to make it more favorable to family physicians."