RESPONSES:
a. The civilian hospital where the patient was receiving care.
This response is not correct. Although the civilian hospital would submit a bill for
payment to TRICARE, and TRICARE, in turn, would pay that bill, the civilian hospital would
not be responsible for notifying the proper legal or other officials of the uniformed services
about the possible tort liability injury.
b. The nearest U.S. Army medical treatment facility (MTF).
This is not a correct answer. Chances are that the nearest U.S. Army MTF
would never hear about a civilian patient being hospitalized in a civilian hospital and, even
if it should, there is nothing the MTF would do in this regard because MTFs are never
designated to be administratively responsible for nonactive duty personnel in civilian
hospitals.
c. The Triple Option Benefit Program and the Civilian Health and Medical
Program of Uniformed Services.
This is the correct answer. TRICARE is the agency that would obtain and submit
the required documents to the proper legal authorities or other officials of the Uniformed
Services. However, if the available information indicates that the injury was caused solely
by the fault or neglect of the patient, TRICARE would not forward the necessary information.
TRICARE is the medical benefits program provided by the Federal Government
to help pay for civilian medical care rendered to spouses and children of active duty
uniformed services personnel, to retired uniformed services personnel and their spouses
and children, and to spouses and children of deceased active duty and deceased retired
personnel.
MD0755
2-13