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A crisis is unfolding in Florida’s healthcare system as providers who serve military families struggle with halted TRICARE payments, leaving them with thousands of dollars in unpaid claims and no clear answers from program administrators.
Local mental health providers say TRICARE—the military’s healthcare program—has either undergone significant administrative changes or possibly shut down its payment system as of January 1, 2025, without notifying them. As a result, some clinics have been left in financial limbo, unable to receive reimbursements for services already rendered to military personnel and their families.
One provider, Nella Ciciulla Albrecht, who runs a private mental health practice in Melbourne, reported that her practice alone is owed more than $15,000 in outstanding claims. Despite multiple attempts to get answers, she says Florida TRICARE representatives have provided no solutions.
“This failure to communicate and process claims is not only impacting small businesses like mine but also jeopardizing access to care for military families who rely on these essential services,” Albrecht stated.
She says TRICARE has suggested that small businesses take out loans to manage their cash flow in the meantime—placing the financial burden of their failure onto providers rather than resolving the issue.
Mental health professionals play a vital role in supporting active-duty military members, veterans, and their families. TRICARE, which is designed to ensure they receive quality care, is a lifeline for many. However, with payments stalled, providers face a difficult choice:
• Stop accepting TRICARE patients, leaving hundreds of military families without access to critical mental health care.
• Continue providing services without compensation, risking financial collapse and the potential closure of small practices.
Neither option is sustainable.
“If we stop accepting TRICARE patients until payments resume, hundreds of individuals will be left without critical mental health care,” Albrecht explained. “However, if we continue to provide services without compensation, we risk losing our practice, our jobs, and our ability to serve the community.”
Providers and military families alike are calling for immediate action and transparency from TRICARE. They demand accountability and a swift resolution before the crisis forces essential healthcare providers to shut their doors.
This issue highlights a broader concern about the stability of TRICARE and whether military families can rely on uninterrupted access to healthcare services. If payments remain stalled, it could have long-term consequences not just for small businesses but for the well-being of military personnel and their families who depend on these services.
The Space Coast Rocket is reaching out to TRICARE representatives and other local providers to get more information on this developing situation. If you are a healthcare provider or military family affected by these issues, we want to hear your story.
The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether TRICARE can resolve these payment disruptions or if providers will be forced to take drastic action. Military families and their healthcare providers are urging state officials, advocacy groups, and TRICARE leadership to step in before it’s too late.
For now, providers are left in the dark—hoping for a resolution while weighing whether they can continue to serve the military families who need them most.
Are you impacted by TRICARE’s payment delays? Share your experience with us at [editor@thespacecoastrocket.com].
