In a statement released online, officials with TRICARE touted their Military Health System Nurse Advice Line.1
The MHS Nurse Advice Line, which is available all day and night and is free for TRICARE beneficiaries, enables active-duty service members and their families, and retirees, to connect with a registered nurse by phone, chat, or video.
Connecting with a nurse is available by calling 800-TRICARE (800-874-2273) and choosing Option 1 for people living in the United States, Guam, or Puerto Rico, or visiting MHSNurseAdviceLine.com to find country-specific phone numbers for those outside of the county.
The MHS Nurse Advice Line nurses can assist in an array of areas, including:
- Answering healthcare questions
- Assessing patient symptoms and giving recommendations for the most appropriate steps to take next
- Giving instructions to treat minor issues at home
- Helping patients locate the closest urgent care or emergency care facility, if needed
- Helping to make an appointment
- Providing an online “absence excuse” or “sick slip” when medically appropriate (subject to service command requirements)
“The MHS Nurse Advice Line is an excellent resource for TRICARE beneficiaries and their families,” Julie Pruitt, Branch Chief, Integrated Referral Management and Appointing, Assistant Director for Healthcare Administration at the Defense Health Agency, stated.1 “Sometimes all you might need is to have a healthcare professional answer a few simple questions to provide you with direction and next steps. By contacting the MHS Nurse Advice Line, you’ll have peace of mind.”
Sponsor and family members’ personal information must be updated in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting system, which can be accessed via milConnect.
The statement reminded readers that the MHS Nurse Advice Line isn’t for emergency situations. Health emergencies are conditions that threaten your life, limb, eyesight, or safety. If a patient or a family member reasonably believes they are experiencing a health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Reference
- Tricare Communications. Unlock Your Health Through the MHS Nurse Advice Line [press release]. Published January 16, 2025. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://newsroom.tricare.mil/News/TRICARE-News/Article/4018506/unlock-your-health-through-the-mhs-nurse-advice-line