Due to Hurricane Katrina, much of the
information provided on the Keesler SITES is now outdated. Until a
review and rewrite can be accomplished, newcomers are encouraged to regularly
review the Keesler web sites (please see contact listing) for current
information. The Family Support staff will be updating all of the community web
sites so you can gather information regarding services/housing/
education/employment across the Gulf Coast area.
In addition to
the Keesler AFB medical facility, there are several hospitals in the area.
TRICARE at Keesler assistance locations: Carolyn James and Linda Davis are
health benefits advisors and are located in the Internal Medicine Clinic Room
1F306, 377-6580. Patient Registration, TRICARE Prime Enrollments for Active Duty
and their family members, and Eligibility is located in the first floor of the
hospital in Room 1A200.
As of Dec. 1, the authorized blanket referral for
TRICARE beneficiaries is no longer in effect. Beneficiaries are again
required to obtain a referral or authorization from their primary care manager
before seeking care outside of a military treatment
facility. Out-of-pocket costs can be substantial if a TRICARE Prime
enrollee seeks medical care outside the TRICARE network of MTF and contracted
providers. (Added expenses also may be incurred if a patient sees a network
provider without first receiving proper authorization.)
Patients should
call 1-800-700-8603 to make an appointment with their PCM and obtain an
authorization or appointment from the Referral Management Center if
necessary. After receiving a referral from the PCM, please wait for a
phone call from the Referral Management Center or a letter from Humana Military
Health Services. To contact the Referral Management Center for
referral information, call them at 228-377-6177. Patients may also
contact Humana about the status of a network referral at
1-800-444-5445.
For any other TRICARE questions, please contact the
Keesler TRICARE office at 377-9962 or a health benefits advisor at
377-6580.
Medical care services are offered on a priority
basis. First priority of care is to active duty
military. Second priority is to family members of active duty, with
retired military and family members of retired military following in the
eligibility chain.
When calling the medical center for an
appointment, use the appointment line at 1-800-700-8603. Be sure to
have the sponsor's social security number. The appointment line is used for all
messages between the patient and their physician.
Family member care
through the base dental clinic is very limited.
The Zachary
and Elizabeth Fisher House at Keesler provides a comfortable home-away-from-home
for families of seriously ill patients at the Keesler Medical Center and the
Biloxi/Gulfport Veterans Health Administration Hospitals. The criteria for
occupancy are that the guest be either a member of the "support team" of the
patient hospitalized at these facilities or a patient in an outpatient
status. The Fisher House here at Keesler was damaged by Hurricane
Katrina, but is expected to be open soon once repairs are
complete. Although Keesler Medical Center is not currently providing
inpatient services, the Fisher House will still be supporting the local VA
hospitals.