U.S. Senator offers help to military families following an On Your Side Investigation

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - Following an On Your Side Investigation about health care problems with military families, a Missouri U-S senator says he wants to step in and help.

At the beginning of the year, Tricare, the healthcare company for millions of our military members and veterans, started delivering healthcare with TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

It was supposed to cut costs and improve access, but since then, there have been problems. Providers tell us payments are delayed, and many are forced to drop patients, including some here in the Ozarks.

“We saw that reporting and we want to be as helpful as we can,” said U.S. Republican Senator Eric Schmitt. “We want to make sure our military veterans, people who have served this country, who have sacrificed and made that commitment, that we honor that commitment to them and make sure they get all the benefits they’ve been promised.”

When asked if he would do anything to hold TriWest accountable, Schmitt said his current focus is taking care of military families with those coverage gaps.

TriWest sent On Your Side a statement saying it’s processing more than 91% of claims within thirty days.

Meanwhile, the owner of the Speech House tells us they’re still owed $28,000.

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