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Lessen wait time, update personal DEERS information

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  • By Danielle Gregory
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE --  If you're experiencing longer-than-usual wait times in the doctor's office or when waiting to hear test results, the problem could lie on your shoulders. Patients failing to update their Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System may experience hold ups.
   According to the TRICARE Web site, proper registration in DEERS is absolutely necessary to obtaining well-timed and efficient TRICARE benefits. DEERS is a worldwide, computerized database of military service members, their dependants, and others who are eligible for military benefits. All sponsors (active duty, retired, National Guard and Reservists) are automatically registered in DEERS. However, sponsors must register eligible family members for the information to be complete. After family members are registered, the sponsors can then update their personal information as well as their dependents'.
   Registration can be completed with Military Personnel Flight.
   "We find trouble arising when new personnel come to base, and they don't register in our patient administration, DEERS has a roll over system that eventually would catch that," said Master Sgt. Craig L. Harris, Family Practice Flight chief. "But they also make it a yearly requirement to update. With medical issues, it specifically affects several things from referrals to billing, and even getting an appointment."
   "We've actually had to call old units and track people down before," Sergeant Harris said. "That can be very time consuming if a lot of the demographic info is not correct."
   One main target audience for DEERS updates are all active duty military.
   Active duty military have an annual physical health assessment that is mandatory. If DEERS isn't updated, Family Practice has to go to commanders and first sergeants to track down the personnel. When the information is not updated and the necessary paperwork isn't completed, it can delay deployment and readiness status. It can also delay appointments and medical care.
   "We would like to inform the patients anytime there is a change of any contact information the MDG has a need to have the information updated as soon as possible. Outdated information could affect us getting a hold of them the first time, it can slow down getting them to downtown medical facilities refills, medicine they need and test results," said Tech. Sgt. Brandy M. Hudson, noncommissioned officer-in-charge at the 72nd Medical Support Squadron's TRICARE Operations and Patient Administration. "The release of that information all ties into whether patient has given proper information."
"If not updated patient perception could be that we've ignored requests or not returned phone calls, when its lack of information that we have been given."
   To update information, go to the DEERS Web site at www.Tricare.osd.mil/DEERS, visit a local personnel office or TRICARE Service Center, fax changes to 831-655-8317, or call the DEERS office at 800-538-9552.
   "If we can get everyone to comply with filling out their paperwork in a timely manner it will definitely ease frustration and give patients the best response time as fast as possible, which is our goal," said Sergeant Hudson.