Active Duty
Active Duty Outpatient
The Soldier‘s unit DTS representative is responsible for initiating, funding and processing orders for outpatient specialty appointments outside of IACH. Before traveling to a specialty care appointment, Active Duty outpatients must provide a TRICARE authorization for specialty care to the Patient Travel Office.The Patient Travel Office will provide a travel authorization memorandum to the Active Duty outpatient. The memo is to be presented to the Soldier's S-3 or PAC responsible for producing TDY orders per the unit's SOP.
Upon completion of travel, patients must present:
- Confirmation of Specialty Care Form. Patients can also present a signed letter from the treating facility indicating the appointment was kept. The letter must include office letterhead with address, phone number, and signature block.
- TRICARE Authorization for Specialty Care
- Itemized receipts from authorized expenses. Receipts must be in the patient's name for reimbursement.
For each 400 miles, patients are authorized one travel day.
All Active Duty outpatient travel is administered by the Soldier’s unit and local policies will determine distance allowed, NMA procedures, and SOP for reimbursement.
Active Duty Inpatient
Active Duty inpatients referred for specialty appointments outside of IACH must provide a TRICARE authorization to the Patient Travel Office to receive a pre-travel authorization memorandum.
The memo is to be presented to the Soldier's S-3 or PAC responsible for producing TDY orders per the unit's SOP. The Soldier‘s unit DTS representative is responsible for initiating and processing DTS orders for inpatient appointments.
The unit should contact IACH’s Financial Defense Travel Administrator at the Resource Management Division to obtain the funding classification for DTS. For AD Soldiers, meals provided during an inpatient stay are covered by TRICARE. IACH will reimburse Active Duty patients only for meals en route to/from the TDY destination.
Upon completion of travel, patients must present:
- Discharge documentation with date/time of admission and disposition
- Itemized receipts with the patient’s name (or individual claiming reimbursement)
Active Duty Non Medical Attendant (NMA)
When a Non Medical Attendant is assigned to accompany another Soldier, the NMA must report before traveling to the Patient Travel Office to receive travel authorization. Active Duty Soldier assigned as NMAs will obtain receipts in the NMA's name for reimbursement.
If a rental vehicle is authorized, only the rate of a compact-size rental will be reimbursed after completing travel. Shared expenses can only be claimed by one traveler.
For more information on NMA procedures click Non-Medical Attendant.