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Tricare Patients (Military Personnel & Beneficiaries)
Tricare Referral Guidelines
Dear Tricare Patient:
The UNC Health Care System makes every effort to help coordinate the Tricare referral process. We hope the information below will assist you in understanding this process.
- If your Primary Care Manager Physician (PCM) determines that you need to be referred for specialty services, please be sure to obtain a copy of the referral request form for your records when checking out of your PCM’s office.
- If a UNC Health Care physician refers you for specialty services, UNC Health Care staff will contact Tricare to request prior authorization.
- You will receive a letter of approval or denial of your PCM’s Referral Request from Tricare in the mail. If your PCM’s Referral Request is approved, you will find your authorization/reference number listed on the letter you receive from Tricare.
- Tricare states that all routine referral requests take seven (7) business days to process. If you have not obtained your letter of approval by mail from Tricare within 10 business days, you should contact Tricare at 1-877-TRICARE (1-877-874-2273).
- After receiving your authorization number from Tricare, you may call the Specialist Physician’s Office to schedule your appointment. Please be sure to have your authorization number available.
- UNC Health Care Specialist Physicians’ Offices cannot schedule appointments without a valid Tricare authorization number.
- A full description of the Tricare Referral Guidelines can be found on their Web site. http://www.mytricare.com/internet/tric/tri/tricare.nsf
Thank you for allowing us to participate in your health care needs.