FALLS CHURCH, Virginia – The Defense Health Agency (DHA) announced that TRICARE has expanded the number of North Carolina counties in which TRICARE beneficiaries may receive emergency prescription refills due to wildfires. DHA also extended the date from Nov. 16, 2023, to Nov. 24, 2023.
The counties originally impacted were Buncombe and Cherokee.
DHA has expanded that list to include Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey.
To receive an emergency refill of prescription medications, TRICARE beneficiaries should take their prescription bottle to any TRICARE retail network pharmacy. If the bottle is unavailable or the label is damaged or missing, beneficiaries should contact Express Scripts, Inc., or their retail network pharmacy for assistance.
To find a network pharmacy, beneficiaries may call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303, or use the Find a Pharmacy tool.
If possible, visit the pharmacy where the prescription was filled. Prescriptions filled by a retail chain may be filled at another store in that chain. If the clinician who prescribed the medication is available, beneficiaries can ask them to call in a new prescription to any network pharmacy.
As a reminder, TRICARE beneficiaries, other than active duty service members, may receive urgent care from any TRICARE-authorized urgent care center or provider and do not need a referral. This allows beneficiaries to seek nonemergency care for illnesses or injuries if their primary care provider is unavailable because of emergencies. Any TRICARE beneficiary who reasonably believes they have an emergency should always call 911 or, go to the nearest emergency room.
Beneficiaries are advised to visit Express Scripts’ weather alert page for updates.
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