1 00:00:00,409 --> 00:00:02,242 Have you ever wondered how a new 2 00:00:02,242 --> 00:00:04,298 treatment , drug or device becomes a 3 00:00:04,298 --> 00:00:06,510 Tricare covered benefit ? It starts 4 00:00:06,510 --> 00:00:08,510 with a careful process to make sure 5 00:00:08,510 --> 00:00:10,890 your care is safe , effective , and 6 00:00:10,890 --> 00:00:14,159 proven . The benefit approval process 7 00:00:14,159 --> 00:00:17,719 is separated into 3 steps 1 , review of 8 00:00:17,719 --> 00:00:20,280 federal laws . 2 , scientific 9 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,750 evaluation , and 3 , implementation . 10 00:00:25,420 --> 00:00:27,610 Starting this process is a review of 11 00:00:27,610 --> 00:00:31,430 federal laws . When evaluating a new 12 00:00:31,430 --> 00:00:34,509 treatment , drug or device , Tricare 13 00:00:34,509 --> 00:00:36,731 first checks whether it's allowed under 14 00:00:36,731 --> 00:00:38,950 existing law and not specifically 15 00:00:38,950 --> 00:00:42,750 exclude it . This is because Tricare's 16 00:00:42,750 --> 00:00:45,049 coverage is set by federal statute , 17 00:00:45,310 --> 00:00:47,366 which defines what can and cannot be 18 00:00:47,366 --> 00:00:50,639 covered . If a treatment , drug or 19 00:00:50,639 --> 00:00:53,220 device is explicitly excluded by law , 20 00:00:53,470 --> 00:00:55,692 only Congress can make changes to allow 21 00:00:55,692 --> 00:00:58,439 it to be covered . By passing new 22 00:00:58,439 --> 00:01:00,889 legislation that updates or expands 23 00:01:00,889 --> 00:01:03,680 Tricare's covered benefits . The 24 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:06,250 Defense Health Agency can't change laws 25 00:01:06,250 --> 00:01:09,050 to cover a certain treatment . So if a 26 00:01:09,050 --> 00:01:11,050 new treatment isn't permitted under 27 00:01:11,050 --> 00:01:13,489 current federal law , it isn't possible 28 00:01:13,489 --> 00:01:16,489 for Tricare to cover it . If the 29 00:01:16,489 --> 00:01:18,980 treatment is allowed by law , the next 30 00:01:18,980 --> 00:01:22,550 step is scientific evaluation . Experts 31 00:01:22,550 --> 00:01:24,839 dig into the science , reviewing 32 00:01:24,839 --> 00:01:26,506 medical research , technology 33 00:01:26,506 --> 00:01:28,239 assessments , and expert 34 00:01:28,239 --> 00:01:30,669 recommendations . To confirm the 35 00:01:30,669 --> 00:01:33,150 treatment is safe , effective , and not 36 00:01:33,150 --> 00:01:36,980 experimental . Sometimes a pilot 37 00:01:36,980 --> 00:01:39,036 program helps gather additional data 38 00:01:39,339 --> 00:01:42,410 for a newly FDA approved treatment . If 39 00:01:42,410 --> 00:01:44,577 the treatment meets all requirements , 40 00:01:44,577 --> 00:01:46,610 the process moves to the 3rd step , 41 00:01:46,860 --> 00:01:50,059 implementation . To implement a new 42 00:01:50,059 --> 00:01:52,510 covered benefit , TriCare secures 43 00:01:52,510 --> 00:01:55,190 funding , develops policy , updates 44 00:01:55,190 --> 00:01:57,470 manuals , and works with regional 45 00:01:57,470 --> 00:01:59,809 contractors to make it available to you . 46 00:02:00,190 --> 00:02:02,150 It's a detailed process , but it 47 00:02:02,150 --> 00:02:04,430 ensures Tricare only covers care that's 48 00:02:04,430 --> 00:02:06,989 proven and right for you . Learn more 49 00:02:06,989 --> 00:02:07,989 at 50 00:02:07,989 --> 00:02:11,380 www.tricare.mill/coveredservices .