The U.S. Department of Defense has once again awarded TriWest Healthcare Alliance the contract to administer health care services for the 21–state TRICARE West Region.

For 13 years, TriWest Healthcare Alliance has administered the TRICARE program for military service members and their families in the West Region. TriWest is a Phoenix–based corporation co–owned by BCBSND and 15 other not–for–profit health care organizations and two university hospital systems.

Below is a July 13 statement to employees from TriWest president and CEO David McIntyre Jr.

McIntyre's statement about Department of Defense contract award
On behalf of our employees and our Board of Directors, I am proud to announce that TriWest Healthcare Alliance has been chosen by the Department of Defense to continue to serve the health care needs of 2.7 million active duty personnel, their families and retirees across the 21–state TRICARE West Region.

This third contract award is a strong vote of confidence in our company and a testament to the work we have done throughout the 13 years we have been in business. The award also reflects the "Whatever It Takes" attitude and commitment of our leadership and employee base, who know that it is not only our duty, but our privilege to serve those who sacrifice so much in service to us all.

Since 1996, when we opened our doors, we have gone above and beyond to partner with the Department of Defense and deliver extraordinary customer service and access to high–quality health care through the collaboration of more than 145,000 providers. Our success today shows that we have indeed delivered on the promise of TRICARE, and have secured the confidence and trust of not only our beneficiaries, but also the government.

We began work on our proposal for the third generation of TRICARE (T–3) almost two years ago, asking the question: How can we improve on an already exemplary track record to the benefit of our customers, the Defense Department and the taxpayer?

The award of the T–3 contract today, which will allow us to continue to serve the Department of Defense in support of one–third of our nation's military family, is a clear indicator that we arrived at the right answer to that question.

I am proud of the work of our employees in meeting the needs of those we are privileged to serve, and I thank our company's owners for their faith and confidence in us and the unwavering support they have provided us these past 13 years.

I am confident that we are well prepared to continue on our exemplary legacy and stewardship of those who serve in defense of freedom.