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TRICARE Reimbursement Manual 6010.61-M, April 1, 2015
Beneficiary Liability
Chapter 2
Section 5
Point Of Service (POS) Option
Issue Date:  May 15, 1996
Authority:  32 CFR 199.17
Revision:  C-66, January 6, 2023
1.0  DESCRIPTION
The POS option applies under TRICARE Prime only. It gives TRICARE Prime enrollees the freedom to obtain services from any civilian provider. Under the POS option, when TRICARE Prime enrollees self-refer to a civilian authorized provider other than their Primary Care Manager (PCM) or for dates of service on or after January 1, 2018, all requirements applicable to health benefits under the CHAMPUS Basic Program (32 CFR 199.4) shall apply, unless otherwise stated in this section.
Note:  TRICARE Prime POS does not apply to Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs).
2.0  POLICY
2.1  Self-referred non-emergency specialty or inpatient care provided to a TRICARE Prime enrollee either within or outside the network, which is neither provided by the patient’s PCM or referred by the PCM, nor authorized by the contractor, shall be reimbursed under the POS option if it is a benefit under TRICARE Basic Program. See paragraph 3.0 for exceptions.
2.2  The contractor shall apply TRICARE Prime copayments, not POS cost-sharing provisions when PCMs, network providers and/or the contractor do not follow established referral/authorization procedures. For example, if the contractor processes a claim without evidence of an authorization and/or a referral under POS provisions, and the contractor later verifies that the PCM or other appropriate provider referred the beneficiary for the care, the contractor shall adjust the claim under TRICARE Prime provisions. The contractor need not identify past claims, however the contractor shall adjust these claims as they are brought to their attention.
2.3  POS deductible and cost-share amounts follow for TRICARE Prime enrollees:
2.3.1  Enrollment/calendar year deductible for outpatient claims (deductible amounts do not apply to inpatient claims): $300 per individual; $600 per family.
2.3.2  Beneficiary cost-share for inpatient and outpatient claims: 50% of the allowable charge after the deductible has been met.
2.4  POS deductible and cost-share amounts are NOT creditable to the catastrophic cap and they are not limited by the cap.
2.5  POS deductible and cost-sharing do not apply to the claims for care received by certain newborn and newly adopted children not registered in Defense Enrollment Eligibility System (DEERS) or not enrolled in a TRICARE Plan for up to 90 days or up to 120 days if overseas after birth or adoption (see the TRICARE Policy Manual (TPM), Chapter 10, Section 3.1).
2.6  All TRICARE coverage provisions apply to POS claims with the exceptions noted in this section.
3.0  EXCEPTIONS
3.1  The TRICARE Prime clinical preventive services do not require preauthorization or authorization. Most of the services covered as clinical preventive services are provided directly or ordered by the patient’s PCM. In those cases that patients can self-refer for services (e.g., eye examinations), patients must use network providers. If the patient does not use a network provider, payment shall be made under the POS option ONLY for preventive services that are otherwise covered under the TRICARE Basic Program (e.g., 32 CFR 199.4(e)(28)).
3.2  POS cost-sharing and deductible amounts do not apply if an enrollee has Other Health Insurance (OHI) that provides primary coverage, i.e., the OHI must be primary under the provisions of Chapter 4, Section 1; and documentation that the OHI processed the claim and of the exact amount paid must be submitted with the TRICARE claim. TRICARE Prime provisions apply for this type of claim.
3.3  POS cost-sharing does not apply to TRICARE Prime enrollees who obtain outpatient mental health care from a network provider without a referral from their PCM.
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