Have You Seen TRICARE Online Lately?

  • Published
  • By Courtesy of the 19th Medical Group
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark., --  In January 2015, the Department of Defense launched exciting changes to the TRICARE Online (TOL) patient portal that offers secure, anytime access to personal health care services and information. 

Now, enrolled patients can schedule appointments with the 19th Medical Group, review their own personal health information using the Blue Button function and activate refills that remain for existing prescriptions without picking up a phone or leaving home.  Also, patients can link to MiCare through TOL for secure, direct communication with their health care team.

These recent improvements include a faster, easier and more secure log in process.  TOL users can now log on with their Common Access Card, Defense Finance and Accounting Services myPay and Premium DoD Self-Service Logon.  Further, TOL allows authorized beneficiaries the ability to schedule, cancel and view future appointments as well as set email and text message appointment reminders for themselves and family members. 

Accessing the site to schedule an appointment is similar to selecting a seat online for a trip on an airplane as all available appointments are conveniently displayed. 

Col. Douglas Littlefield, 19th Medical Group commander, praised the new site saying, "The new TOL brings the medical home right into the patient's home.  Functions that were once available only by visiting our facility in person are now open directly for beneficiaries to access at their convenience." 

In addition to the scheduling appointments with TOL, the DoD Blue Button capability provides authorized beneficiaries access to view their own medical record information, including medications, allergies, lab and radiology results as well as immunizations.  Users have the option to view their PHI, download the data as a PDF file or share data in a continuity of care document.  Since its release, TOL users have accessed their Blue Button PHI more than 10 million times, actively seeking and downloading information needed to better manage their own health and the health of their families. 

TOL users can also use the site to activate refills on existing prescriptions for pick up at the 19th Medical Group Pharmacy.  In fact, TOL's Prescription Refill capability allows users to request up to 10 refills at a time, check prescription status, and access a convenient link to the TRICARE Pharmacy if they prefer to schedule home delivery via the TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy. 

For active-duty members who may be transitioning out of the military, TOL now offers service separation information for scheduling and preparing for their separation, history and physical examination within the Military Health System.  TOL also provides easy access to service-specific transition assistance program information along with Veterans Affairs information on how to file a pre-separation claim and schedule a VA managed separation exam.
 
These improvements are evidence of TOL's commitment to improving the user experience. TOL will continue expanding capabilities and redesigning existing capabilities to make the site more intuitive and user friendly.  To start using these exciting new features or to obtain additional information about TOL, please visit www.tricareonline.com.