News & Updates – Page 4

Care Can’t Wait: US Family Health Plan Provides 24-hour Health Care through Telehealth and Nurse Hotlines

August 8, 2018/in Videos

Sometimes care can’t wait. Patients increasingly require on-demand care outside of the traditional setting of a hospital or clinic. Thanks to advances in technology, individuals can have easier access to health care and medical resources – often even from home.

In a new US Family Health Plan Alliance video, Dr. Steven Kravet, MD, MBA – president of Johns Hopkins Community Physicians – discusses how the Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan integrates telehealth and technology into the quality health care they provide to their members. Read more

Combat Changes Things: US Family Health Plan’s Dedication to PTSD Care

July 31, 2018/in Article

A version of this article was originally published in the Spring 2018 edition of “U” Magazine by US Family Health Plan member organization, Brighton Marine Health Center.

Service members who have experienced combat often have reactions such as irritability, sleeplessness, nightmares, jumpiness and flashbacks to combat events. They may feel depressed and lonely, even when they’re with friends and family. For many, these signs of stress go away after a few months. For others, the problems remain or get worse with time. These veterans may find that their health and their relationships with family and friends deteriorate. They may resort to misusing alcohol or drugs in an effort to feel better. They may have post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as “PTSD.”

US Family Health Plan Regional Spotlight: Johns Hopkins, Mid-Atlantic Region

July 10, 2018/in Videos

The US Family Health Plan Alliance comprises six regional health care providers that offer the Tricare PRIME benefit to nearly 150,000 military families and retirees across the country. US Family Health Plan members in the Mid-Atlantic region are served by Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan.

Dr. Steven Kravet, MD, MBA, has overseen the delivery of primary care for beneficiaries of the Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan for the past nine years. He serves as president of the physician group, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians, responsible for the majority of the primary care for the region’s US Family Health Plan members, of which approximately 70 percent are military retirees and 30 percent are active-duty military dependents.

In a new US Family Health Plan Alliance video, Dr. Kravet highlights Johns Hopkins’ long history of working with the military population going back three decades and how it has been able to grow throughout the region. Read more

Committing to Our Communities On and Beyond Independence Day

July 2, 2018/in Article

The six regional member organizations of TRICARE’s US Family Health Plan program, which collectively serve 150,000 military family members and retirees nationwide, understand the importance of community stewardship.

CHRISTUS Health, the member organization serving US Family Health Plan members in Texas and Louisiana, is no exception, having long participated in community immersion events in the region and served as a longtime sponsor of Houston’s massive annual Independence Day celebration.

US Family Health Plan Founding Members Reunite after Nearly Four Decades

June 5, 2018/in Article, Member Profile Series

Nearly 40 years after its creation in 1981, the US Family Health Plan is still providing high-quality health care to some of its original members.

Martin’s Point Health Care in Maine – one of the six US Family Health Plan regional member organizations – hosted a recent seminar to educate members about plan benefits, pharmacy options, health coverage and the latest in military health care. Excitingly, the seminar also reunited some of the inaugural members who have received health care through the plan since its founding.

US Family Health Plan Tips for a Healthy Spring Season

May 17, 2018/in Article

The six member organizations of the US Family Health Plan place a high priority on providing members with and educating them about preventative care. As winter transitions into spring, it’s important to monitor the effects seasonal changes have on our bodies and overall health. Here are a few tips to ensure you and your family enjoy the new season.

US Family Health Plan Salutes Nurses During National Nurses Week

May 7, 2018/in Article

Nurses are at the frontline of patient care and as we celebrate National Nurses Week– timed to coincide with Florence Nightingale’s birthday. The member organizations of TRICARE’s US Family Health Plan program want to recognize and commend everything nurses do, day in and day out, to ensure patients receive the highest level of care possible.

As part of our leadership in promoting the patient-centered medical home concept, US Family Health Plan member organizations were among the first TRICARE providers to offer a 24-hour nurse help hotline, giving members around-the-clock access to nurses and primary care doctors. Through the hotline, US Family Health Plan members have access to general health information, advice on the use of emergency services, guidance about the appropriate level of care for their medical condition, and assistance in scheduling appointments.

The US Family Health Plan Alliance and the six health plans thank all nurses for their service and tireless dedication to patient care. We could not serve our members without them.

USFHP Member Profile Series: Cleared for Takeoff

April 2, 2018/in Article

Chief Master Sergeant Maryanne Walts turned injury into inspiration, channeling her love for travel in her service to the Air Force and Air National Guard

The US Family Health plan provides quality health care to more than 150,000 members nationwide who are military retirees or the family of active-duty or retired military service members. We are honored to serve members like Chief Master Sergeant Maryanne Walts, who trusts us with her family’s healthcare needs.

Call Us First: A US Family Health Plan Emergency Care Pilot Program

February 28, 2018/in Article

Deciding where to go for the treatment of a medical condition is not always easy. Thankfully, US Family Health Plan member organization, Pacific Medical Centers (PacMed), has helped remove the guesswork from members’ emergency care needs.

PacMed, which serves US Family Health Plan members in the Puget Sound area of Washington State, recently introduced a pilot program – “Call Us First” – to encourage members to call an after-hours medical care hotline to consult with a doctor before visiting the emergency department. Through this program, PacMed educates both patients and providers about the benefits of seeking medical care with a primary care physician versus relying solely on the emergency department.

What is the US Family Health Plan?

February 9, 2018/in Article, Videos

For over 30 years, the US Family Health Plan has provided a patient-centered approach to health care for active-duty U.S. military family members, activated National Guard and Reserve family members, military retirees and their families. Over 150,000 US Family Health Plan members nationwide enjoy access to quality health care with top-rated patient satisfaction through six regional TRICARE Prime providers.

Many of the benefits of being a member of the US Family Health Plan, as well as how the US Family Health Plan serves its members, are laid out in a recent educational video, which you can watch here.

The US Family Health Plan has been labeled a model for reform for the Military Health System and has been applauded for exemplary patient satisfaction, having far surpassed the patient satisfaction rates of other managed care plans for nearly two decades. Our overall satisfaction rate is more than 92 percent, according to the most recent Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) survey.

US Family Health Plan Members have access to advanced medical care and services in their communities, and our providers have a deep understanding of military culture and the unique components of care associated with the military community. Our care providers pride themselves on offering world-class health care for their patients, including wellness and disease prevention programs, disease management and continuity of care.

To learn more, about US Family Health Plan, please watch our latest video above or continue to explore our website.