Army health center in Vicenza may cut services to DoD civilians

March 28--VICENZA, Italy -- The Army health center here is considering reducing services to Defense Department civilians, especially those with chronic conditions, officials said this week.

Civilians such as teachers, contractors and others not covered by Tricare, the Army's insurer, would in the future be less likely to be seen by Army doctors at the health center, said Col. Andrew Barr, the health center commander.

In particular, Barr said, those with chronic health conditions like diabetes and high-blood pressure would likely be "transitioned" to local Italian doctors.

"Nonbeneficiaries have been calling (for appointments) and basically competing with Tricare beneficiaries," he said.

Last week, the health center announced on Facebook that space-available appointments for civilians were unavailable. Barr said that that was temporary, and that civilians could still attempt to make same-day appointments.

Civilians with health insurers other than Tricare have long been seen at the Vicenza facility on a "space-available" basis, after patients with priority: active-duty troops, their families and retirees.

Barr said new no plans had been finalized. But he said that growing numbers of patients -- along with no staffing increases -- meant that changes were coming.

Barr said that the move to same-day appointments for civilians meant that those with chronic conditions probably would be transitioned to local Italian doctors. "The problem is day-to-day, I can't guarantee you'll have an appointment," he said.

The group of people affected will likely number "in the low hundreds," Barr said.

According to the Vicenza garrison, there are nearly 3,700 civilians in the community, although how many of them were not covered by Tricare was unclear.

Barr said that six English-speaking Vicenza family practitioners had agreed to see American patients.

The plan comes a month after an announcement that the center was to cease providing maternity care because of reduced funding.

montgomery.nancy@stripes.com

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