TRICARE issued a reminder Sept. 9 that a West Region referral approval waiver deadline is nearing. If you used the West Region referral approval waiver to see a specialist between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2025 and need to continue seeing that specialist, you’ll need to get a new referral to a network specialist before Oct. 1, 2025. Defense Health Agency Photo by Maria C. Yager.

Sept. 16, 2025

TRICARE West Region Referral Approval Waiver deadline nears

FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS — TRICARE Prime beneficiaries on Fort Leavenworth and surrounding communities who used the referral approval waiver between Jan.1 and June 30 and are still receiving specialty care off post using the waiver need a new referral before Oct. 1.

Unlock Your Health graphic, DHA logo, elderly woman and medical care worker sit together on a couch

Sept. 16, 2025

Unlock Your Health With TRICARE Home Health Care and Pharmacy Home Delivery

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Is leaving home for care a challenge? TRICARE covers solutions that make it easier to get the care—and drugs—you may need. Your TRICARE plan may cover certain in-home health services and pharmacy home delivery options. This gives you flexibility and convenience in your care.

A SimX virtual reality headset rests on a table during a demonstration at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Sept. 5, 2025.

Sept. 15, 2025

59th Medical Wing explores new technology with SimX demo

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas — The 59th Medical Wing hosted a demonstration of SimX’s Virtual Reality Operational Medical Training at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, giving leaders and educators a chance to explore how immersive technology could support medical readiness. The SimX system, known as VALOR (Virtual Advancement of Learning and Operational Readiness), offers a variety of scenarios designed for military medicine. With only a headset and laptop, medics can train individually or in teams in fully immersive environments that simulate battlefield trauma, prolonged casualty care, aeromedical evacuation, chemical or biological incidents, and even K-9 trauma cases.

Flu Vaccine Dates

Sept. 15, 2025

Flu Vaccines Have Arrived at Fort Riley

FORT RILEY, Kansas — Flu season is here, and Irwin Army Community Hospital has received its first shipment of flu vaccine. The Public Health team is finalizing logistics to vaccinate employees who are required to receive the flu shot as a condition of employment, as well as to support Retiree Appreciation Day with high-dose flu vaccines.

Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in mid-September, 2025, after a rigorous onsite review. This prestigious accreditation recognizes the clinic’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality care. "Our staff will continue to maintain the exceptionally high level of patient care and safety we are known for, as we live our mission of “Keeping the Warfighter in the Fight,” said Capt. James J. Driscoll, the facility’s commander.

Sept. 12, 2025

Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point Earns The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval

MCAS Cherry Point — Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point is proud to announce it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval after a rigorous onsite review conducted. This prestigious accreditation recognizes the clinic’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality care.

The Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point Readiness Team ensures the medical readiness of over 1,000 service members assigned to six different units aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The team tracks and coordinates essential medical procedures such as flight physicals for air traffic controllers and pilots, screenings for special duties, courses and reenlistments and evaluations for service members separating from active duty.

Sept. 12, 2025

We Keep the Warfighter in the Fight: Naval Health Clinic Readiness Team

MCAS Cherry Point — A team of three Sailors and a civilian staff member ensure the medical readiness and eligibility of over 1000 service members across six Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point units.

Image of Members of the 15th Medical Group practice the transfer of patients during Exercise Ultimate Caduceus 25 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on July 24, 2025. Ultimate Caduceus is an annual U.S. Transportation Command exercise that tests the Defense Department's ability to coordinate large-scale military patient movement from the Indo-Pacific region to medical facilities within the United States.

Sept. 11, 2025

The 15th Medical Group, USTRANSCOM, and Partners Test Critical Medical Evacuation Capabilities

DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY — The 15th Medical Group supported U.S. Transportation Command's annual Ultimate Caduceus exercise recently, testing the Defense Department's ability to coordinate large-scale military patient movement from the Indo-Pacific region to medical facilities within the United States.

Brig. Gen. YR Summons Defense Health Network West, Director, and Medical Readiness Command West, Commanding General, looks back on almost 200 years of Army medical history on Fort Leavenworth during a tour of the facility Sept. 3. Photos of the post’s previous medical commanders displayed in the command hallway date back to 1827.

Sept. 11, 2025

MRC/DHN West Leaders Visit Munson Army Health Center

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — Leaders from Defense Health Network, West and Medical Readiness Command, West visited Munson Army Health Center Sept. 3-5 to meet with Soldiers, civilian employees, and leaders, and to observe Munson’s medical mission in action.

Harney Sports Complex staff John Boyer and Matt Price use CPR masks from a first aid kit to administer rescue breathing during Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training at Munson Army Health Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Aug. 29. CPR masks improve the effectiveness of rescue breaths by providing a proper seal, ensuring a clear air way, and protects the rescuer from germs, viruses, and blood-borne pathogens from the victim.

Sept. 11, 2025

Munson Army Health Center provides AED/CPR training on Fort Leavenworth

Fort Leavenworth — More than 20 Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation employees on Fort Leavenworth recently participated in Automated External Defibrillator training at Munson Army Health Center, gaining certification and confidence to respond in the event of a cardiac emergency.

Fifteen months of persistence paid off Sept. 5 as Dr. Scott Saxe, IACH podiatrist, stood with hospital leaders and logisticians to welcome the long-awaited DUOLITH SD1 shockwave therapy device. Imported from Switzerland, this state-of-the-art system gives Soldiers and families a powerful new option for treating stubborn injuries such as plantar fasciitis—right here at Fort Riley.

Sept. 11, 2025

Shockwave Therapy Lands at Fort Riley

FORT RILEY, Kansas — IACH recently acquired the DUOLITH SD1 shockwave therapy system, a state-of-the-art medical device that expands treatment options for musculoskeletal injuries common among Soldiers and families.

Don’t forget to keep your family’s information up to date in DEERS!