2 TriWest Programs Named URAC ‘Best Practices’ Finalists

PHOENIX — Two programs aimed at helping civilian health care providers better understand military culture and embedding a mental health provider directly into a National Guard unit earned TriWest Healthcare Alliance nominations as 2012 URAC Best Practices Award finalists.

TriWest—in partnership with TRICARE—successfully implemented these two programs, both of which are finalists for the 2012 URAC Awards for Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection. URAC, one of the nation’s leading accreditation organizations, will honor the finalists Oct. 9–11 at the 2012 Quality Summit in San Francisco.

TriWest administers the military’s TRICARE health care plan for 2.9 million military families across 21 western states.

“We’re humbled to know that two of our programs are included in a group of 19 nationally,” said TriWest President and CEO David J. McIntyre, Jr. “We are extremely proud to champion these programs because they provide close collaboration with community partners and the National Guard, Reserve Component and their families that, ultimately, lead to our service members, retirees and their families receiving the best care that they absolutely deserve.”

‘Best Practices’ Program Finalists

The Quality Summit Awards honor programs in two areas: consumer decision-making and consumer health improvement. TriWest’s program finalists are:

• Collaborative Continuing Education Delivery—Gives civilian providers evidence-based and best-practice information on deployment-related mental health issues and military culture to aid in their treatment of service members, veterans and their families.
• California National Guard Embedded Provider Program—Embeds providers who are familiar with military culture with service members to better understand their challenges and obstacles in receiving mental health care.

“URAC is honored to share these programs and raise awareness of innovative approaches to health care delivery and management that can be replicated across the industry,” Alan P. Spielman, President and CEO of URAC, said of the finalists in a URAC news release.