Coming Soon: TriWest Healthcare Alliance (TriWest) Partnership

We are honored to announce that Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) will be partnering with TRIWEST to become the new Network Contract Plan Administrator for TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

TriWest Healthcare Alliance holds the contract to administer the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) 26-state TRICARE West Region with health care delivery scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2025. TRICARE combines the health care resources of the Military Health System with a network of civilian health care professionals, institutions, pharmacies and suppliers.

Participation with TriWest is for dates of service starting on/after Jan. 1, 2025. If you currently serve TRICARE beneficiaries through the existing contractors, continue to follow their procedures for dates of service through Dec. 31, 2024.

BCBSND offers important tools for working with TriWest. These tools will help you better understand our claims process and learn more about the resources and programs TriWest offers.

Providers should start to prepare now for the Jan.1, 2025, TriWest launch, in the following ways:

• Register for the Availity provider portal at Availity.com
  • Availity is an online platform where you can manage multiple health plans you accept in one place. TriWest uses Availity as its secure provider portal. For TRICARE, TriWest will have a unique TRICARE Payer Space on Availity where you will be able to:
    • Submit claims and check claims status.
    • Access authorizations.
    • Manage your demographic information (such as address and phone number) Find tools and resources like the Provider Handbook, Quick Reference Guides and more.
    • Take training on TRICARE processes and procedures.
    • If you don’t already have an account on Availity, register now: www.availity.com. If you need help with registration or have questions about your Availity account, call Availity at 1-800-282-4548.
• If you are already registered for the Availity provider portal:
  • The Availity facility Administrator for your organization will need to determine if you are enrolled in payer ID 99726 for TRICARE.
    • Note: The payer ID is not new or changing payer ID’s for TriWest.
    • The TRICARE payer spaces will be updated later this year within Availity.
• Review the TriWest TRICARE West Region Provider Handbook
  • The TriWest TRICARE West Region Provider Handbook contains information about program requirements, claims submission, eligibility, referrals and authorizations as well as beneficiary out-of-pocket costs. You can find a link to the Provider Handbook by visiting or clicking: https://triwest.com/globalassets/tricare/triwest-tricare-west-region-provider-handbook.pdf
  • Find more information about TRICARE on www.TriWest.com/Provider.

We look forward to working with you in this next stage of TRICARE healthcare.

Questions?
We are here to help, if you have any questions please contact:

• Provider Questions:
  • Website: www.TriWest.com/Provider
  • Email: TriWest at providerservices@triwest.com
  • Call 1-866-690-0885 (Monday through Friday 8:00AM to 5:00PM MST)

Interested in joining our network?

• Contracting Information:
  • https://www.triwest.com/en/provider/join-the-triwest-provider-network/learn-more-about-tricare/
  • Email: providercontacting@bcbsnd.com