NASW Tips and Tools for Social Workers: Delayed Payments from TRICARE Impacting Clinical Social Workers

Reprinted from NASW Tips & Tools for Social Workers

Denise Johnson, LCSW-C, Senior Practice Associate

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has received inquiries from clinical social workers (CSWs) who are experiencing delayed reimbursements and administrative burdens from TRICARE, the Department of Defense’s health care program that serves active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, and their families.

What Is the Problem

The TRICARE West region is experiencing issues with delays in reimbursement after transitioning to a new contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, which took over from Health Net Federal Services on January 1, 2025. The Defense Health Agency is aware of this issue and is working to resolve the matter.

The contractor responsible for administering the TRICARE East Region, Humana, acknowledged the issue and attributed the delays in payment to systematic transitional problems. Humana informed NASW that they are actively working to resolve this matter.

What Should CSWs Do?

In the interim, CSWs are encouraged to contact their regional contractor provider representative if they are experiencing payment issues. NASW will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as new information becomes available. If you are a TRICARE provider facing ongoing issues or need additional support, please reach out to NASW for assistance at clinical.practice@socialworkers.org.