Yellow card equals med group cash

  • Published
  • By Sheila Rupp
  • Nucleus Journalist
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  Personnel from the 377th Medical Group will now ask for a "yellow card" when patients check in for clinic visits or to pick up prescriptions. The yellow card shows proof that a Record of Other Health Insurance, form DD 2569, is on file with the medical group. 

The practice will also bring additional funding into the 377th MDG under a mandate that requires health insurance companies to reimburse the government for medical treatment provided here. The Third Party Collections Program is responsible for billing the insurance companies for services performed, items used or prescriptions filled. 

The practice is Department of Defense-wide, said Nicole Alcantar, other health insurance representative, so servicemembers can expect to see the yellow card program when moving to other bases. 

Ms. Alcantar said the program is similar to that of civilian health insurance systems where patients are asked to show proof of insurance. All retirees, retiree dependents and active-duty dependents will now need to show identification and a yellow card. DD Form 2569 must be filled out yearly. 

Even if a patient does not have other health insurance, the form must be on file and up-to-date. Should health insurance status change, a medical technician or receptionist should be notified at check-in so that a new form can be filled out. 

Ms. Alcantar said that when private health insurance is used, all visits to the 377th MDG can be applied to a policy deductible, which means a patient can meet an annual deductible without out-of-pocket costs. This also allows the 377th MDG to build up revenue and continue to provide quality healthcare. The law allows eligible patients to use on-base facilities such as the pharmacy, and not pay the co-pay associated with going to a retail facility. 

Other health insurance rates will not go up as a result of the yellow card or Third Party Collections Program, said Ms. Alcantar. Rates are calculated in a number of ways and the cost of employers' health insurance is dependent on the number of claims across the entire organization and many other factors, these factors would affect costs regardless of where care is received, she said. 

If a yellow card becomes lost, a new one will be issued at any clinic window. For more information or if you have questions, contact Faye Brown, the Third Party Collection Program manager, at 846-2767 or Ms. Alcantar at 853-8218.