Appointments
You may conveniently schedule an appointment on the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal or by calling the appointment line at 302-730-4633. Normal duty hours are Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on training days, held the second Wednesday of each month, and federal holidays. For unexpected closures and other useful information, please visit our Facebook page.
Same-day appointments are set aside for time-sensitive needs based on constant demand analysis from our patient community. We can also book appointments weeks in advance for families’ convenience, such as well baby visits or three-month follow ups for chronic conditions. This way, you’ll have your next appointment scheduled before leaving the clinic.
If you have a health care need outside regular duty hours, you may access care through the Military Health System Nurse Advice Line by calling 800-TRICARE (874-2273), option 1. You may also visit the MHS Nurse Advice Line website for web or video chat.
How Do My Referrals Work?
A
referral is when your Primary Care Manager or provider sends you to another provider for care they don’t provide.
A
pre-authorization is when Humana Military approves your care before you go to your appointment. If you are being referred, your provider will get you a referral and pre-authorization at the same time.
When care is approved your regional contractor sends you an authorization letter with specific instructions. You can find this letter in
Humana Military’s patient portal.
You must:
- Book your appointment with the provider listed in the authorization letter. If you need to find another provider, call Humana Military at 800-444-5445.
- Get care before the authorization expires. Otherwise, you’ll need to get the care re-approved.
Active duty service members need a referral for most care received outside of their assigned military hospital or clinic.
Find out more about how to obtain the necessary referral and authorization
You can view and check the status of your referral or pre-authorization on
Humana Military’s patient portal.
Services that Don’t Require Referrals
Patients enrolled in a TRICARE Prime Plan can get the following services from a network provider without a PCM referral:
Getting a Second Opinion
You have every right to request a second medical opinion from another provider. You, your PCM, or your regional contractor may request a second medical opinion.
If you want a second opinion, go to your PCM. Explain your situation and ask any questions you may have about the first specialist’s suggested care. Then, ask your PCM to coordinate a referral to another specialist and request a referral from your regional contractor, if necessary.
Network vs. Non-Network Providers
You should try to see network providers instead of non-network providers.
Network providers cannot:
- Ask you to sign a document to make you pay for authorized services
- Ask you to sign a document to make you pay for any part of the service TRICARE doesn’t cover
- Refuse to see you because you won’t sign such a document
Please note that if you choose to get non-emergent care from a non-network provider (or a network provider outside of your
region)
without first obtaining a referral from your PCM, you’re using the
point-of service-option.
You will have higher out-of-pocket costs when you use the point-of-service option.
Find out more about how to obtain the necessary referral and authorization.