Specialty care authorization and referral process

  • Published
  • By Tyler Patterson
  • TriWest Healthcare Alliance
TRIWEST --  Has your Primary Care Manager decided to refer you for specialty health care? TriWest Healthcare Alliance, the West Region TRICARE administrator, offers a powerful, easy-to-use online tool to help you schedule your specialty appointment more quickly than ever before: QuickAlert.

QuickAlert, TriWest's automated authorization and referral status notification system, e-mails you a notice that your request has been processed and provides a link for you to view the result online. This means that instead of waiting for notification by mail, you may proceed with scheduling your specialty care appointment (if approved) within one day of your request being processed.

To use QuickAlert to set your appointment faster:

1. Obtain a referral request. Your PCM will send this to TriWest.

2. Register on www.triwest.com, or just log in if you're already registered. Registered users are automatically enrolled in QuickAlert.

3. Set your QuickAlert preferences. Once logged in to your secure www.triwest.com account, you can change your preferences to have QuickAlerts sent to the e-mail address of your choice.

4. Schedule your appointment once you receive a QuickAlert e-mail notice that your referral is approved. Use the recommended provider, or select a provider of your choice from the online provider directory at www.triwest.com.

5. Notify TriWest at 1-866-876-2383 of your appointment. Have your appointment date, tracking number and Sponsor's SSN ready, and remember to notify TriWest again if you reschedule your appointment. TriWest will then help to ensure that your consultation and test results are returned to your PCM in a timely manner.

Without QuickAlert, once your doctor issues a referral you will receive an authorization letter in approximately seven days. At that time you can schedule your appointment.

QuickAlert is free to use and does not disclose any personal information; it simply lets you know the status of your request is available for viewing online. Once you log on, you'll be able to see whether your request for authorization or referral has been approved. For your convenience, your e-mail notification will contain a direct link to the login page.

Whether enrolled in QuickAlert or not, you will continue to receive written notification by standard mail. As always, you are welcome to contact TriWest at 1-888-TRIWEST (874-9378) with any questions about your authorization or referral status.