Tricare defines who can be a PCM

  • Published
  • By Shari Lopatin
  • TriWest Healthcare Alliance
Most military families have a primary care manager, but not everyone knows who qualifies as one. 

Tricare defines a primary care manager as: "A civilian network provider or military treatment facility provider who provides primary care services to Tricare beneficiaries." 

Most families with Tricare Prime or Prime Remote have a primary care provider. This is the person to run to for all non-emergency services. 

Either the beneficiary will choose or the military installation clinic will appoint a family its medical provider. 

A primary care manager may be a: 

- Certified nurse midwife 

- Family practitioner 

- General practitioner 

- Gynecologist 

- Internal medicine physician 

- Nurse practitioner 

- Obstetrician 

- Pediatrician 

- Physician assistant 

Actually, a primary care provider may be a certified medical professional who practices within the state's rules and regulations and has signed a contract to be a Tricare PCM. However, the medical professional must be within the beneficiary's prime service area.
For more information, visit the Tricare Provider Directory at www.triwest.com or call 888-TriWest (874-9378).