2 TriWest Programs Named URAC 'Best Practices' Finalists

PHOENIX, July 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Stressed because her husband is deployed thousands of miles away, a military spouse uses Skype video chat to talk through her challenges with a licensed counselor.

Looking to ditch his chewing tobacco habit, a military service member calls into his tobacco cessation class.

Meshing innovation with creativity, TriWest Healthcare Alliance—in partnership with TRICARE—successfully implemented these two programs, both of which are finalists for the 2011 URAC Awards for Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection.

TriWest, which administers the military's TRICARE healthcare plan for 2.9 million military families across 21 western states, joins other industry-leading programs as Best Practices finalists. URAC, one of the nation's leading accreditation organizations, will honor the finalists Oct. 4–6 at the 12th Annual Quality Summit in Chicago, Ill.

"We are very proud and honored to know that—among the many programs submitted throughout the country—two of our programs stood out as best-practice examples of URAC's high standards," said TriWest President and CEO David J. McIntyre, Jr.

'Best Practices' Program Finalists

The Quality Summit Awards honor programs in two areas: consumer decision-making and consumer health improvement. TriWest's program finalists are:

• TRICARE Assistance Program—Connects military members and dependents with 24/7 access to online behavioral healthcare access, including Web-based video-conferencing.
• Tobacco Cessation—Helps beneficiaries cope with tobacco addiction through classes offered over the phone.

"We are proud to honor TriWest's programs," said Alan P. Spielman, President and CEO of URAC. "By sharing these best practices, we can work to inspire the industry as a whole to adopt proven practices that advance patient safety and empower consumers."

About URAC

URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting healthcare quality through its accreditation and certification programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the healthcare system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC strives to ensure that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire healthcare industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.

About TriWest

TriWest Healthcare Alliance partners with the Department of Defense to do "Whatever It Takes" to support the healthcare needs of 2.9 million members of America's military family. A Phoenix-based corporation, TriWest provides access to cost-effective, high-quality health care in the 21-state TRICARE West Region. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook or visit www.triwest.com for more information.

SOURCE TriWest Healthcare Alliance