Former Tricare West contractor picked to help manage VA program

The Veterans Affairs Department has chosen two health care companies with histories managing Tricare contracts to administer the department’s community care program.

Former Tricare West Region contractor TriWest Healthcare Alliance announced Wednesday it will manage the program in 28 states — a contract worth an estimated $4.3 billion that effectively saves the company from extinction.

In 2012, TriWest lost its bid to manage the Tricare West Region, a defeat that left the company managing one small Marine Corps contract and reduced the number of employees from 1,800 to 100.

On Wednesday, TriWest CEO David McIntire said he is “humbled and proud” to be back serving the country’s military personnel.

“We have proven expertise in providing access to quality health care and pride ourselves on delivering best-in-class customer service to our nation’s veterans, even in the most rural areas. It’s who we are. It’s what we do,” McIntire said.

The VA Patient-Centered Community Care program will provide services such as specialty care and mental health treatment to veterans in remote areas not served by VA or where VA health facilities cannot accommodate the number of patients.

TriWest will manage the regions spanning several southern states and including much of the West and Alaska.

Health Net Federal Services, the company that manages the Tricare North Region, was chosen to administer the VAPCCC contract in the three remaining regions.