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TRICARE Operations Manual 6010.62-M, April 2021
Claims Adjustments And Recoupments
Chapter 10
Section 4
Third Party Recovery Claims
Revision:  
1.0  GOVERNMENT’S RIGHT TO RECOVER MEDICAL COSTS
The following statutes provide the basic authority for the recovery of medical costs incurred as a result of “Third Party Liability” (TPL).
1.1  The Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (FMCRA) (42 United States Code (USC) 2651-2653)
Provides for the recovery of the costs of medical care where the United States (US) is authorized or required to furnish or pay for medical care to a person suffering a disease or injury caused by the intentional conduct or negligence or some third person. Under this act, the US has a right to recover the reasonable value of the care and treatment from the person(s) responsible for the injury. For TRICARE beneficiaries, this includes care that may be received by the beneficiary at a Uniformed Services facility or care paid for or to be paid for under TRICARE, or both. The FMCRA applies only to illness or injury (including work-related injuries) caused by a third party, either intentionally or negligently, or injuries caused by a third party’s failure to act when a duty to act could be implied.
Example:  Example: A beneficiary is injured as a result of an automobile accident negligently caused by another person and the beneficiary’s medical care is paid for by TRICARE. Under the FMCRA, the Government may recover the amounts paid by TRICARE from the negligent party and/or that party’s insurer.
1.2  Other Statutory Authority
The cost of medical care required as a result of the injured party’s own conduct would not be recoverable under the FMCRA; however, other provisions of law often permit recovery by the Government under some insurance contracts, as set forth in paragraph 6.0, federal claims may also arise for the recovery of medical costs under the following kinds of authorities:
•  State worker’s compensation laws.
•  State hospital lien laws.
•  “No-fault” automobile statutes.
•  Contract rights under terms of insurance policies or contracts or agreements to reimburse medical expenses.
2.0  DEFINITIONS
2.1  TPL Recovery
Action by the US to recover, under authority of the FMCRA, from a third party the costs of medical care furnished, or paid for, on behalf of a TRICARE beneficiary. The third party will be an individual (or an entity) liable for tort damages to the injured TRICARE beneficiary. Recovery may be obtained from the third party and/or from a liability insurance carrier covering the third party. TPL Recovery is the responsibility of Uniformed Services Claims Officers (USCOs).
2.2  Automobile Medical Insurance
Defined as insurance coverage that pays for all or part of the medical expenses for injuries sustained in an automobile accident by the passengers or driver. This insurance is sometimes called basic medical payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP).
2.3  Liability Insurance
Defined as insurance which provides payment based on liability for injury to persons or damage to property. It includes, but is not limited to, automobile liability insurance, homeowners liability insurance, malpractice insurance and product liability insurance.
2.4  No Fault Automobile Insurance
Defined as insurance which pays for medical treatment necessitated by an automobile accident irrespective of fault. This kind of insurance may affect the right of the individual to sue for damages.
2.5  Self-Insured Plan
Defined as a plan under which an entity (or individual) is authorized by State or Federal Law to carry its own risk and not to insure itself with an insurance carrier.
2.6  Uninsured Or Underinsured Motorist Insurance
Defined as insurance under which the policyholder’s insurer will pay for damages caused by a motorist who has no or insufficient liability insurance and is financially unable to pay the damages.
2.7  PIP Insurance
Coverage, included as a part of a general automobile, homeowners, or other insurance policy which provides payment for accidental injuries suffered by the policy owner or any other designated beneficiary such as a family member or passenger.
2.8  Incident
Defined as an accident or other cause of personal injury.
2.9  Episode Of Care (EOC)
All services for care received in the treatment of injuries suffered in an accident. For serious injuries, this can include multiple claims from a number of providers over a prolonged period of time.
2.10  Surrogate Arrangements
Contractual arrangements between a surrogate mother and adoptive parents are considered other coverage. For pregnancies in which the surrogate mother is a TRICARE beneficiary, services and supplies associated with antepartum care, postpartum care, and complications of pregnancy may be cost-shared only as a secondary payer, and only after the contractually agreed upon arrangement has been exhausted. Where contractual arrangements are silent or do not specify a reasonable amount for reimbursement for medical expenses, a reasonable amount of payment shall be assumed and deemed attributable to the medical expenses of the surrogate mother. TRICARE considers the surrogate mother responsible for the cost of providing maternity services and assumes the surrogate will seek reimbursement from the adoptive parents as first payer.
3.0  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DoD) POLICY
It is the DoD’s policy that Defense Health Agency (DHA) establish, implement, and maintain a system to identify and enforce the Government’s right to recover funds expended on claims involving potential third party recovery.
4.0  RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECOVERY
Designated legal officers of the uniformed services are responsible for the recovery actions on TRICARE claims involving third-party liability under the FMCRA. Addendum B, provides a complete listing of the offices in the DHA area to which TRICARE claims involving TPL are to be sent.
5.0  CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITY
5.1  Identification Of Claims Subject To Third Party Recovery (Not Applicable To Pharmacy Contract)
5.1.1  The contractor shall make a preliminary investigation of all potential third party recovery claims.
5.1.1.1  Any inpatient or outpatient claim with International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis code 800-999 which exceeds a TRICARE liability of $500, shall be considered a potential third party claim and shall be developed with the questionnaire, “Statement of Personal Injury - Possible Third Party Liability,” DoD Document (DD) Form 2527. (See http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/forms/eforms/dd2527.pdf.) For inpatient claims with dates of discharge or outpatient claims with dates of service on or after the mandated date, as directed by Health and Human Services (HHS), for International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) implementation, use ICD-10-CM diagnosis S and T code ranges ending in the letter “a” signifying the initial encounter.
5.1.1.2  The contractor shall use all additional encounters identifying the date of injury with the date of injury for the initial encounter.
5.1.1.3  The contractor shall not develop a case for third party recovery if the contractor can determine, based upon a specific diagnosis code (e.g., certain external cause codes), that there is little or no third party recovery potential. Examples of cases that usually would not require development include a slip and fall incident at home, private residence, or a one-car accident in which the TRICARE beneficiary was the only occupant. Claims with the diagnoses listed below do not require routine development for potential TPL. References to the ICD-9-CM 800-999 diagnostic code and ICD-10-CM) S and T codes ending with the seventh character of A ranges category for TPL purposes excludes these codes.
•  ICD-9-CM: 910.2-910.7, 911.2-911.7, 912.2-912.7, 913.2-913.7, 914.2-914.7, 915.2-915.7, 916.2-916.7, 917.2-917.7, 918.0, 918.2, and 919.2-919.7.
•  ICD-10-CM (with the exception of codes indicating abrasion and contusion): S00.02-S00.97, S10.1-S10.97, S20.1-S20.9, S30.82-S30.877, S40.22-S40.879, S50.32-S50.879, S60.32-S60.879, S70.22-S70.379, S80.22-S80.879, S90.42-S90.879, T15.1, and T16.
5.1.2  The contractor shall set a system flag in its system when the DD Form 2527 is mailed.
5.1.2.1  The contractor shall, after it has reviewed the returned statement, refer any claim which appears to be a possible third party claim to a USCO for determination and recovery action.
5.1.2.2  The contractor shall process these claims to completion in the usual manner prior to referral to a claims officer. Normal processing includes appropriate Coordination of Benefits (COB) under the provisions of paragraph 6.0 and the TRICARE Systems Manual (TSM), Chapter 2.
5.1.3  The contractor shall develop claims for TPL which require COB and either be denied or be treated as uncontrolled returns in accordance with paragraph 5.2.1.2.2.
5.1.3.1  The contractor shall develop other coverage information using the normal other coverage procedures if it discovers potential other coverage through receipt of the completed DD Form 2527.
5.1.3.2  The contractor shall, if during the course of claim adjudication it becomes aware of a potential third party recovery arising as the result of malpractice (civilian provider negligence), process the claim(s) under the provisions of this section regardless of the procedure codes involved.
5.2  Contractor Procedures
5.2.1  The contractor shall have automated identification of claims with ICD-9-CM diagnoses codes 800-999.
5.2.1.1  The contractor shall, when it receives a claim with ICD-9-CM diagnoses codes 800-999, follow the instructions below.
Note:  Claims with dates of service or dates of discharge on or after the mandated date, as directed by HHS, for ICD-10 implementation, will have ICD-10-CM code ranges of S and T. (For pharmacy contractor procedures, see paragraph 5.2.9.)
5.2.1.2  Continue normal processing of the claim (including any required development or other insurance actions) to the point of payment, but withhold payment pending the actions that follow:
5.2.1.2.1  Search existing files to determine whether there is a system flag indicating that a personal injury questionnaire has been sent within the last 35 calendar days, or an indicator that a completed DD Form 2527 has been received for the same EOC.
5.2.1.2.2  The contractor shall, if there is no personal injury questionnaire attached to the claim and none has been requested within the last 35 calendar days or received previously for the same incident, suspend the claim payment regardless of whether the claim has been assigned; and, send a request to the beneficiary asking that he or she complete the questionnaire. (See Addendum A, Figure 10.A-2.)
5.2.1.2.2.1  The beneficiary must be advised that if a completed questionnaire is not returned on a timely basis, the claim cannot be processed without the requested information. Every effort shall be made to request any additional information required to process the claim at the same time the questionnaire is sent.
5.2.1.2.2.2  The contractor may, if the claim indicates that there is other insurance, or if contractor history or Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) reflects the existence of Other Health Insurance (OHI), deny the claim(s) or return the claim(s) to the provider and simultaneously send the DD Form 2527 to the beneficiary to be completed.
5.2.2  The contractor shall suspend the claims received subsequent to the request of a personal injury questionnaire that has been requested within the last 35 calendar days when claims relate to ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes 800-999, or ICD-10-CM code ranges of S and T. Additional requests for the DD Form 2527 are not necessary.
5.2.2.1  The contractor shall develop such claims for any other needed information to expedite processing when the response is received.
5.2.2.2  The contractor shall, when a claim is received with services or supplies connected with a probable TPL case and services or supplies not so connected, report the treatment encounter data on TRICARE Encounter Data (TED) using claim breakdown.
5.2.3  The contractor shall override claims in the event the requested personal injury questionnaire (DD Form 2527) is not received within the above time frame requested and a TPL case is already established for the EOC under review at the appropriate claims office.
5.2.4  The contractor shall deny the claim which triggered the TPL development and all related claims which are in suspense status waiting for receipt of the personal injury questionnaire, if the requested personal injury questionnaire is not received within 35 calendar days following the initial request.
5.2.4.1  The contractor shall, when the personal injury questionnaire is received, flag its system to indicate receipt and the questionnaire shall be evaluated to determine whether there is indication that there is a potential for third party recovery. (This evaluation is not expected to be a detailed legal analysis of the recovery potential of a case.)
5.2.4.2  DD Form 2527 forms must have enough information to allow the contractor to make a determination regarding the potential for TPL.
5.2.4.3  The contractor shall return the DD Form 2527 to the beneficiary, if the DD Form 2527 returned by the beneficiary does not have enough information to allow the contractor to make such a determination, or if the DD Form 2527 has not been signed, and 35 calendar days have not passed since the DD Form 2527 was mailed to the beneficiary.
5.2.4.4  The beneficiary will be asked to sign the DD Form 2527 and told that the DD Form 2527 did not provide sufficient information to allow the contractor to make a benefit determination, as appropriate.
5.2.4.5  The contractor shall advise the beneficiary that if the form is not properly completed and returned within 10 business days from the date the contractor returned the form for addition to or correction of the DD Form 2527, his or her claims will be denied.
5.2.4.6  The contractor shall, when the 35 calendar day suspension period, or the 10 business day period allowed for addition to or correction of the DD Form 2527, whichever is later, has expired, deny the pended claims.
5.2.4.7  The contractor shall, when the properly completed and signed DD Form 2527 is returned, reopen the denied claims and process them in accordance with the provisions of this Manual.
5.2.5  There may be times when the beneficiary cannot complete the DD Form 2527. Completion of the form by a responsible relative who signs the form is acceptable.
5.2.6  The contractor shall confirm the relationship between the beneficiary and the individual who completed and signed the DD Form 2527.
5.2.7  When the provider can demonstrate, based upon the medical records, that there is no potential for TPL, and the beneficiary or next of kin has refused to complete the DD Form 2527 or cannot be located by the provider, there is no need to require a completed DD Form 2527 before the claims are processed.
5.2.7.1  The contractor shall request that the provider submit copies of medical records, if the DD Form 2527 is not returned and the provider alleges that there is no potential for TPL.
5.2.7.2  The contractor shall process and pay the claim without a completed DD Form 2527, if the contractor review of the records determines that no potential TPL exists.
5.2.7.3  The contractor shall refer cases in which there is doubt about possible TPL to a claims officer for resolution.
5.2.7.4  The contractor shall not refer cases to a claims officer in which it is clear that there is no potential for recovery from a liable third party (such as the slip and fall incident at home or a one-car accident noted above).
5.2.7.5  The contractor shall be alert to other avenues of recovery in these cases such as medical payment coverage or no-fault automobile insurance.
5.2.7.6  The contractor shall retain a copy of the DD Form 2527 that has been completed and returned by the beneficiary.
5.2.7.7  The contractor’s evaluation of the beneficiary’s completed/returned DD Form 2527 shall include consideration of the following:
5.2.7.7.1  Evaluation for possible TPL under the FMCRA. As stated above, all claims processed to completion with potential for recovery under the FMCRA are to be referred to the appropriate claims officer. Denied claims need not be forwarded to claims officers unless they have been specifically requested.
5.2.7.7.2  Evaluation for third party recovery through the beneficiary’s other insurance. Even if there is determined to be no potential for recovery from a liable third party, claims may possess potential for recovery from other insurance.
5.2.7.8  The contractor shall follow paragraphs 5.2.1.2.2 through 5.2.1.2.2.2 and 6.0 and the TRICARE Reimbursement Manual (TRM), Chapter 4, Double Coverage, when processing claims involving OHI.
5.2.7.9  Evaluation of the potential for mixed recovery under the FMCRA and other third party recovery. Many cases will have potential for recovery under both the FMCRA and other third party recovery such as OHI.
5.2.7.10  The contractor shall follow the COB provisions of paragraphs 5.2.1.2 and 6.0 and TRM, Chapter 4, Double Coverage. If a third party recovery (DD Form 2527) is received late and after the denial of related claims, the denied claims shall be reopened and processed in accordance with the provisions of this manual.
5.2.7.11  The contractor shall, for any subsequent claim related to the same incident or EOC received after the denial of an initial claim for failure to return a third party recovery questionnaire, process the claim as a new case; i.e., with a new 35 calendar day suspension period and a new questionnaire being sent unless a DD Form 2527 has previously been received for this EOC.
5.2.7.12  The contractor shall provide an audit trail for each lump-sum Explanation of Benefits (EOB) received from another health insurer.
5.2.7.13  The contractor shall apply a lump-sum payment to claims for the same EOC in the order in which claims were received.
5.2.8  The contractor shall send to the appropriate claims officer a copy of the EOB applicable to paid claims, and the original DD Form 2527, within 15 business days following the completion of the processing of a claim for which it has been determined that TPL might exist.
5.2.8.1  The contractor shall contact the TRICARE Pharmacy contractor and determine whether payment has been made for any prescriptions prescribed on or after the date of the accident/injury before forwarding the EOB and DD Form 2527 to the appropriate claims officer.
5.2.8.2  The contractor shall obtain copies of any substitute EOB and include them with the EOB and DD Form 2527. An additional 15 business days will be allowed to permit time for claim records to be received from the retail pharmacy contractor.
5.2.8.3  The contractor shall retain a copy of the completed DD Form 2527. All processed EOB associated with claims bearing ICD-9-CM diagnoses codes 800-999, or ICD-10-CM code ranges of S and T, that are related to an incident or EOC shall be referred to the claims officer at the time the completed questionnaire is sent. Actual claim forms need not be sent to the claims officer unless they are specifically requested. See Addendum A, Figure 10.A-3, “Transmittal Letter to Government Claims Officers.”
5.2.8.4  The contractor shall maintain logs of all cases and claims referred to the Uniformed Service Claims Offices. The log shall contain the beneficiary’s name, sponsor’s name, Social Security Number (SSN), claim number and amount, to whom sent, and the date sent.
5.2.9  The pharmacy contractor shall, upon receipt of a request from DHA, a TRICARE contractor or a Government Claims Office (see Addendum B for a listing of Government Claims Offices) provide EOB applicable to paid claims related to the accident/injury/EOC. (If the pharmacy substitute EOB does not contain certain data elements, then a separate report is required (see Addendum A, Figure 10.A-32).
5.2.9.1  If offsets have been taken, additional data elements are required as listed in Addendum A, Figure 10.A-33. Denied claims need not be forwarded unless specifically requested. (Claim copies need not be provided unless requested by DHA, a TRICARE contractor or a Government Claims Office.)
5.2.9.2  The contractor shall provide this information within five business days from the date of the request.
5.2.9.3  The contractor shall maintain logs of all EOBs referred to the DHA, TRICARE contractor, or Government Claims Offices. The log shall contain the beneficiary’s name, sponsor name, SSN, claim number and amount, to whom sent and date sent.
5.2.9.4  The pharmacy contractor shall provide an audit trail for each lump-sum EOB received from another health insurer and/or pharmacy plan. A lump-sum payment shall be applied to claims for the same EOC in the order in which claims were received.
5.3  Associated Claims
5.3.1  The claims officer will notify the contractor whether to submit subsequent associated claims.
5.3.2  The contractor shall promptly forward copies of all EOB applicable to subsequently received and paid claims and any other information available to the contractor regarding Government costs for related care (including information concerning care received at a Uniformed Services facility) to the claims officer, upon request.
5.3.3  The contractor shall furnish all requested information to USCOs within 10 business days of receipt of a request from a claims officer and the mailing of the requested data.
5.3.3.1  The contractor shall provide an interim response advising the claims officer when the requested data will be transmitted for any delay beyond 10 business days.
5.3.3.2  The contractor shall search for all related claims, including any processed prior to and subsequent to the claim which triggered the DD Form 2527 if the claims officer asks for associated claims.
5.3.4  The contractor shall send legible copies of the claim forms and the associated EOB.
5.4  Court-Ordered Restitution
5.4.1  Occasionally, when a TRICARE beneficiary has been injured as a result of negligent or willful action by a third party, the court having jurisdiction over the third party will order that restitution be made to DHA. Restitution is usually included in the terms of probation and it is the responsibility of the probation officer to assure that restitution is made pursuant to the court’s order. The defendant in the action may be allowed to make restitution in monthly payments to the contractor (often through the Clerk of the Court or through the Probation Officer).
5.4.2  The contractor shall accept whatever payments are made and notify the probation officer when a payment is missed, when restitution is made pursuant to a court order.
5.4.3  The contractor has no further responsibility for collection. Paragraphs 3.0 and 4.0 do not apply to court-ordered restitutions.
5.5  TPL And Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) Claims
5.5.1  When a hospital subject to the TRICARE DRG-based payment system submits a TRICARE claim for inpatient services, it becomes bound by the participating requirements. These require that hospitals accept the TRICARE-determined allowable amount (the DRG-based amount) as payment in full. Therefore, hospitals may not bill or otherwise seek recovery from the beneficiary (or file a lien against a beneficiary’s liability insurance proceeds or recovery from a liable third party) for the difference between the billed charge and the DRG allowable amount.
5.5.1.1  The contractor shall advise hospitals that paragraph 5.5.1 constitutes a violation of the TRICARE participation requirements, may constitute Program fraud or abuse and may subject them to DHA administrative sanctions and the loss of their status as a TRICARE and Medicare provider.
5.5.1.2  The contractors shall, in situations in which a hospital persists in seeking recovery from the beneficiary for the difference between the billed charge and the DRG allowable, refer the case to its Program Integrity staff for further review and possible consultation with DHA regarding what additional actions may be taken.
5.5.2  To the extent a hospital may seek recovery of its billed charge directly from the liable third party or insurer, including auto or homeowner’s insurance, no-fault auto or uninsured motorist coverage, it may only do so prior to filing a TRICARE claim. In the case of Service members, however, the provider is always limited to seeking payment the US Government under the Supplemental Health Care Program (SHCP) through TRICARE. In addition, the hospital must also file a TRICARE claim, if required to be a TRICARE participating provider by a network agreement or other authority. In all cases, the hospital may not seek recovery of any amount, other than the applicable beneficiary deductible and cost-share, from the beneficiary, the third party or the liability insurer, for the medical care provided to the beneficiary, because of the limitations imposed by TRICARE participation requirements.
Example:  A Service member is injured in an auto accident by a negligent third party and receives care at a civilian hospital. The US Government is required to pay the costs of the medical care. The hospital must bill TRICARE and may not seek payment from any other party. TRICARE will pay the claim on behalf of the US and the US will seek recovery, as appropriate under the FMCRA.
6.0  COORDINATION OF BENEFITS - PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION AND OTHER COVERAGE
The COB provisions of the TRM, Chapter 4, shall be followed in processing any claim with potential TPL. Automobile liability insurance, no fault insurance, workers’ compensation programs or plans, home owner’s insurance, or any other similar third party payers are not considered double coverage plans and do not require development for coverage or payment of any services on claims submitted to TRICARE. However, any payments made by such a plan or program which are identifiable on the face of the claim without development and are not clearly designated for a purpose other than reimbursement for medical or pharmaceutical expenses shall be treated as double coverage payments when the contractor processes the claim.
7.0  BENEFICIARY RESPONSIBILITY
The beneficiary who receives care through any program in which the US is obligated to furnish hospital, medical, surgical or dental care as a result of injury or disease which was incurred under circumstances creating tort liability in a third party is obligated under the FMCRA to help with the prosecution of the Government claim. This obligation extends to the guardian, personal representative, counsel, estate, dependents or survivors of the beneficiary. The beneficiary or another person representing the beneficiary may be required:
7.1  To provide complete information regarding the circumstances related to an injury or disease. The furnishing of the information is a condition precedent to the processing of a TRICARE claim which involves, or may involve, TPL.
7.2  To assign in writing to the US his or her claim or cause of action against the third party. Such assignment shall be limited to the reasonable value of the care and treatment provided, or to be provided.
7.3  To furnish such additional information as may be requested concerning the circumstances of the injury or disease for which care and treatment are being given and concerning any action instituted or to be instituted by or against a third person.
7.4  To notify the recovery judge advocate or such other legal officer who is representing the interests of the Government of a settlement with or an offer of settlement from a third person.
7.5  To cooperate in the prosecution of all claims and actions by the US against such third person.
7.6  The contractor shall suspend processing of all such claims pending receipt of the required information.
8.0  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
The contractor shall send a report to DHA regarding claims investigated and claims referred under the FMCRA. Claims under this act shall be considered to be those which are presented with ICD-9-CM diagnoses codes which fall within the range from 800 through 999 or ICD-10-CM code ranges of S and T, for dates of service or discharge on or after the mandated date, as directed by HHS, for ICD-10 implementation, and under which there is or could be tort liability of a third party for the patient’s injury or disease. Details for reporting are identified in DD Form 1423, Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL), located in Section J of the applicable contract.
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